FROM    THE   LIBRARY    OF 
REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY    HIM    TO 

THE    LIBRARY    OF 

PRINCETON   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


PtvUm        SCC- 

frctl..  YlW 


poems 


HYMNS   OF  NATURE   AND 
SONGS   OF  THE   SPIRIT 


POEMS 


■^1ttFPKWfl> 


24 1936 


By 
MRS.  MERRILL  E.  GATES 

(Mary  C.  Bishop) 


New  York         Chicago         Toronto 
Fleming  H.   Revell  Company 


London        and 


Edinburgh 


Copyright,  1908,  by 
FLEMING  H.  REVELL  COMPANY 


New  York:  158  Fifth  Avenue 
Chicago:  80  Wabash  Avenue 
Toronto:  25  Richmond  Street,  W. 
London:  21  Paternoster  Square 
Edinburgh:      100    Princes    Street 


For  permission  to  republish  such  of  these  poems  as 
have  already  appeared  in  print,  thanks  are  due  to 
"  The  Atlantic  Monthly"  "  The  Independent,"  "  The 
Youth's  Companion"  "  The  Sunday  School  Times" 
"  Country  Life,"  "  Harper's  Bazar,"  "  The  Intelli- 
gencer" "  The  New  York  Observer"  u  Christian 
Work,"  "  The  Ram's  Horn,"  "  The  Southern  Pres- 
byterian," "  The  Advance"  M  The  Boston  Adver- 
tiser." 


Contents 


•fcgmns  of  "Nature 

Sunday  Morning  in  the  Country           .          .                  1 1 

Beauty     ...... 

12 

The  Mountain  Angel 

13 

Dependence     .... 

*5 

Steps  Upward 

16 

The  Wind 

16 

Worship  in  the  Mountains 

17 

The  Cloud 

18 

Reminiscence  of  Childhood 

l9 

Trust      .... 

20 

The  Grace  of'  God    . 

21 

The  Olive  Trees 

21 

The  Thought  of  God 

22 

The  Song  of  the  Bay 

23 

Distant  Surf     . 

24 

The  Ocean  of  Grace 

24 

Saturday  Evening  in  Winter 

25 

Chancel  Flowers 

27 

Flowers  at  Communion 

28 

Noontide  Hours 

.       28 

The  Morning  Star     . 

29 

The  Alps 

30 

vu 


Contents 


The  Sea- Voice 

The  River,  Looking  Westward 

Enlargement     . 

The  Grass 

Two  Voices     . 

Vision 

Clair-Audience 

Our  Element    . 

The  Upward  Look 

Morning 

The  Days 

A  Thought      . 

The  Sea  beyond  the  Bar 

Departure 

The  Evening  Star 

Your  Beloved  . 

The  Awakening 

"And  They  shall  Walk  with  Me  in  White 

Expectation 

The  Sea 

Across  the  Tide 

Unseen  Streams 

Love  and  Death 

Disarming  Death 

Life 

Death      . 

Only  the  Door 

They  are  Calling 

Music     . 

God's  Argosies 

viii 


Contents 


Thunder,  Wind,  Dawn 

Overflow  ..... 

Durham  Cathedral     .... 

Ely — Festival  of  Choirs,  8th  June,  1898 

To  Emily  Dickinson 

Old  Friends      ..... 

In  Deo    ...... 


flatutc 

Poems     .... 
The  Day 

The  Morning-Glory 

Our  Kinsmen  . 

Clouds    .... 

The  Olives       . 

The  Artist  of  Spring 

BrOwn  and  Blue 

The  Fisherman  and  the  Stream 

The  Bluebirds 

May  in  the  Raritan  Valley 

The  Sun  .         t 

The  Sunlight    . 

The  Sunset  Clouds    . 

The  Thrush     . 

The  Wood  Thrush  . 

The  Hermit  Thrush 

The  Butterfly  . 

A  Butterfly  in  the  Alps 

Summer  Noon 

Among  the  White  Mountains 

By  the  Sea 

ix 


Contents 


A  Wind-Swept  Meadow    . 

The  Cricket     . 

Haying  in  Old  Hadley  Street 

Autumn  .... 

An  October  Day 

The  Seabeach  in  Autumn  . 

Mist-Veils 

The  Sea-Gull  . 

Sunset  from  Shore 

Antinous 

Wind  Music     . 

In  the  Forest    . 

The  Surf 

Mountain  Landscape 

The  High  Hills 

In  the  High  Mountains — The  Olympians 

Brooks  and  Bells  in  the  Alps 

A  September  Afternoon 

An  Amber-Azure  Day 

Yellow  Flowers 

Goldenrod 

The  Procession  of  the  Year 

Autumn  Haze  . 

Autumn  Storms 

Winter  Skies     . 

The  Apple- Wood  Fire 

Sunrise  in  November 


^Experience  of  Gbristfan  Xife 

The  Morning  Watch  .  .  .  .  1 1 1 

A  Morning  Thought  .  .  .  .  1 1 1 


Contents 

PAGE 

How  Far  ?                  .          .          .          .          .          .112 

Prayer     .... 

■     "3 

Sunday  in  the  Mountains  : 

114 

"  The  Angelus  " 

115 

The  Angel  of  the  Spring- Time 

.    116 

The  Wind  and  the  Seed     . 

•    117 

The  King's  Arrows 

.    118 

Love's  Exchange 

.    118 

The  Noon  of  Life 

.    119 

The  Master  Speaks  to  the  Soul  c 

f  Fait 

ti 

120 

Prayer     .... 

121 

Secret  Prayer    . 

122 

Home      .... 

123 

A  Prayer 

•    124 

The  Wonder  of  Sleep 

125 

For  the  Guest-Chamber 

126 

Sleep       .... 

126 

"Whether   We   Sleep    therefore 

or 

Wake 

,  We 

are  the  Lord's  "     . 

127 

The  Watch      . 

.    127 

Mine  Eye  Shall  Behold  Him 

128 

The  Threefold  Song 

129 

The  Eternal  Love 

130 

Thy  Neighbour's  Heart     . 

131 

The  Language  of  Love 

131 

Two  Petitions 

132 

Seeus  Gbrtet  an&  D^mns 

His  Face          .          .         .          .          .         .               135 

The  Weisshorn          .          .          .          .          .          .136 

Snow  on  the  Breithorn        .          .          .          .          .      137 

xi 

Contents 


Mountain  Heights     . 

Jesus  Creator    . 

Sabbath  Evening  before  Sunset 

The  Invisible  Christ 

For  Others 

Like  Unto  His  Brethren     . 

Christ  Our  Life 

Thy  Love  to  Me 

A  Prayer 

A  Believer's  Prayer   . 

Only  the  Words  of  God    . 

Beholding,  Believing,  Belonging 

The  Just  for  the  Unjust 

The  House  of  Mercy 

Gospel  Heralds 

Rise  on  the  Shadowed  Nations 

My  Kinswoman 

The  New  Womanhood 

The  Good  Shepherd 

The  Sheep 

Feed  My  Sheep 

To  the  Fold,  at  Evening  Time 

By  the  Sea 

The  Walk  to  Emmaus 

No  Cloud 

Thoughts  of  Jesus 

The  Procession  of  the  Captive  Thoughts 

The  Love  of  Christ  . 

Jesus'  Thoughts 

Have  Faith  in  God   . 


xn 


The  Uncreated  Light 

PAGE 

.     166 

A  Sabbath  Prayer      .... 

.     167 

Christ  in  Us     . 

.     168 

Behold,  Thy  King  Cometh 

.         .      169 

The  Christian's  Song 

.     169 

Cbe  Xorfc'e  Bag,  Gbe  Gbrtetfan  Pear,  CbilDboofc 
anfc  CbtlDren,  angels 


M  Therefore    With    Angels    and    Archangel 

s    and 

With  All  the  Company  of  Heaven"          .          .      173 

Our  Lord's  Days       ..... 

174 

Sabbath  Surprises 

176 

The  Lord's  Day 

178 

First-Day  on  the  Mountains 

179 

The  Christ-Child's  Coming 

180 

Christmas  Hymn 

181 

"  O  Wondrous  Night !  "  . 

182 

Christmas         .... 

183 

Francia's  Picture  of  Madonna  and  Child 

184 

Madonna  and  Child  with  John  the  Baptist 

184 

Lullaby   ...... 

185 

"  Where's  Mother  ?  " 

186 

Palm  Sunday    .... 

187 

Good  Friday     .... 

188 

Ascension  Day 

189 

The  Resurrection  Message 

190 

The  Radiant  Text     . 

•     191 

The  Child  by  Jesus'  Side  . 

192 

Mother  and  Child  in  a  Railway  Car,  Scotland 

193 

"  Their  Angels  " 

194 

xiii 

Contents 


Reflected  Light  ..... 

To  "  A  Youth  Conducted  by  the  Angel  Raphael 

A  Wish  for  a  Little  Maid 

My  Girl 

The  Champion-Angel 

The  Two  Angels 

Three  Angels  . 

Ministering  Angels    . 

The  Angel  of  Victory 

Together,  With  the  Lord  . 

A  Home  for  the  Master 

Christ's  Labourers 

Truth  in  Flower 

Service    .... 

The  Crown  Starry  or  Starless 

The  Baptism  of  the  Spirit  . 

Gracious  Words 

The  Porch  of  the  Maidens 

The  Dead  Who  Die  Not 

The  Lilies 

The  Present  Time 

The  Wish 

Comfort 

Trusting 

Country  Parishes 

The  Doubtful  Things  We  Do 

The  Ship  of  Faith 

Find  Them  !     . 

Quatrains 

The  Ships  of  God 

xiv 


Contents 


PAGB 

Dreams  and  Deeds    .         .         .         .         .         .222 

Free        .... 

222 

The  Life-Pulse 

223 

Midnight  Sky  . 

•      223 

Interjectory  Prayer    . 

•     223 

«  He  Shall  Send  His  Angels " 

223 

Rocks      .... 

224 

"  That  Cannot  be  Uttered  " 

.     224 

XV 


Ib^mns  of  IRature 


SUNDAY  MORNING  IN  THE  COUNTRY 

^||C  AY  I  not  draw  as  near,  O  God,  to  Thee, 
•1  Sl3  ^s  ^ee  to  bloom,  or  bird  to  his  home- 
tree  ? 
May  I  not  shine  beneath  Thy  sovereign  beam, 
As  shines  beneath  the  sun  this  burnished  stream  ? 
The  eternal  freshness  of  Thy  grace  is  new 
As  this  fresh  dawn,  still  drenched  with  freshest 
dew. 

May  not  serenity  as  endless  pass 
Into  my  life,  as  smiles  up  from  the  grass  ? 
My  rooted  trust,  like  trees,  lift  up  its  arms 
To  bending  skies  of  blue,  nor  fear  alarms  ? 
O  let  like  peace  fill  me  as  that  which  fills 
The  unmeasured  circuit  of  the  holy  hills ! 

My  thought  of  Thee  be  widened  like  the  sky  — 
Be  made  as  boundless,  free,  and  deep  and  high  ; 
The  curving  clouds  grant  me  their  grace  to  move 
On  unseen  currents  of  Thy  guiding  love. 
As  gilds  the  sun  with  gold  this  valley  broad, 
So  let  Thy  light  and  heat  thrill  me,  O  God ! 

Thou    art    in    mountain,    meadow,    stream    and 

flower. 
Thou  art  in  this  Sabbatic  hush  of  power. 
II 


J8eautE 

Invisible,  Thou  art  in  all  that  lives. 
Unseen  but  not  unfelt,  Thy  presence  gives 
Deep  witness  to  Thyself.     All  lives  in  Thee. 
I,  too,  may  live  in  Thee  !     Live  Thou  in  me  ! 


H 


BEAUTY 

THRALL  to  the  beauty  around  me, 

A  bondman  to  air,  sky  and  sea, 
The  spell  of  mere  beauty  has  bound  me, 
I  never  again  shall  be  free. 


Pure  distance  enchants  me  at  morning, 
Perspectives  of  far-lying  space ; 

The  clear,  amber  stars  of  the  dawning 
Gaze  at  me  with  capturing  grace. 

The  brows  of  serene  mountains  hoary 
Like  monarchs  reign  over  my  will, 

Their  poise,  their  repose  and  their  glory 
Enthrall  and  enrapture  me  still. 

Light  cloud-fleets,  mist-born  and  air-driven, 

Flotillas  of  fair  whitening  sail, 
Can  carry  me  far  across  heaven, 

A  slave,  in  their  pinnaces  pale. 

12 


Gbe  /iftountain  Bngel 

The  sea  has  a  voice  that  subdues  me, 
Calling  out  of  her  hollow,  green  caves  ; 

With  cold  tonic  breath  she  renews  me 
With  aromas  of  salt-wind  and  wave. 


Most  beautiful  Nature  still  holds  us 
As  captives  that  may  not  go  free ;  — 

A  part  of  herself,  she  enfolds  us 
In  fetters  of  pure  ecstasy. 


THE  MOUNTAIN  ANGEL 

SOVEREIGN    Angel    of    the    mountains 
hoary, 
I    have    heard    thy   strong,   compelling 
strain  : 
"  Come  aloft,  come  up  and  see  the  glory, 
O  thou  dweller  on  the  lowland  plain  ! " 
I  have  seen  thy  breeze-blown  garments,  Angel, 

On  the  crested  ledges,  flashing  white ; 
I  have  heard  thy  silver-toned  evangel, 
Echoed  from  aerial  height  to  height. 

So  I  come  to  walk  in  uplands  lifted 

Far  above  the  city's  heated  strife. 
On  some  heavenward  summit,  shadow-drifted, 

Breathe  into  me,  breathe  the  breath  of  life ! 
13 


Gbe  /fountain  Bnael 

Bid  the  silence  fall,  intense  and  boundless, — 
Pause  divine  in  the  eternal  hymn, — 

Roll  its  swelling  waves,  serene  and  soundless, 
Over  every  height  and  hollow  dim. 

Hang  in  amber  skies  the  star  of  even  ; 

Open  doors  of  wonder  everywhere  ; 
Drive    the    light-filled    chariot-clouds    through 
heaven ; 

Stir  wild  currents  in  this  unbreathed  air. 
Smite  with  glory  mighty  mountain  shoulders ; 

Fire  with  sunset-flames  their  foreheads  gray ; 
Let  thy  gleams  and  glooms  fall  on  huge  boul- 
ders — 

Drift  of  glaciers  on  their  age-long  way. 

Make  the  mountains  seers,  inspired,  commanding, 

Rapt  and  burning  with  their  message  high, 
Holy  priests  in  flowing  cloud-robes,  standing 

At  the  incense-altars  of  the  sky. 
Show  me  torrents,  in  the  gorges  riven, 

Roaring  ice-cold  through  the  rough  ravine; 
Lead  to  placid  lakes,  sky-blue  like  heaven, 

With  the  mountain-meadow's  peace  between ! 

O  great  Angel,  show  me  all  the  glory, 

Ranging  with  me  through  thy  dwellings  free ; 

Read  me  pages  of  the  old  world's  story, 
Deep,  primeval,  world-old  mystery ! 
14 


2>epenDence 

Spread  the  smiling  earth  far,  far  below  me ; 

Let  auroral  dawns  flush  far  above ! 
Pierce  for  me  the  heart  of  all  things.     Show  me 

At  the  heart  of  all,  Eternal  Love ! 


Z 


DEPENDENCE 

HE  sea-swayed  mosses  clinging  to  the  rock, 
The  little  pool  left  by  the  ebbing  sea, 

The  dying  echo  of  the  thunder's  shock, 
The  leaflet  swinging  on  its  parent  tree, 


Each  by  some  tie  invisible  is  bound, 

The  weaker  still  depending  on  the  strong; 

The  parted  waters  to  the  deep  profound, 
And  faintest  echoes  to  some  voice,  belong. 

So  have  I  felt  myself  a  very  part 
Of  elemental  worlds  I  cannot  see. 

A  swinging  leaf,  my  pendant,  quivering  heart 
Grows  on  the  tree  of  old  Eternity. 

A  clinging  shred,  I  stay  my  tide-swept  will 
And  anchor  it  on  ageless  rocks  of  might. 

A  tiny,  land-locked  pool,  I  feel  the  thrill 
Of  wide,  unfathomed  waters  out  of  sight. 

A  human  fragment,  I  am  not  alone 

In  this  vast  universe,  so  deep  and  broad ; 

But  I  belong  to  worlds  beyond  the  sun, 
And  I,  an  atom,  still  am  joined  to  God. 
15 


Steps  THpwarD 


© 


STEPS  UPWARD 

VER  the  farm-fields  ploughed, 
Swiftly  a  swallow  flew  ; 

Over  the  bird  hung  a  cloud, 
Over  the  cloud  shone  the  blue, 

And  over  the  blue  was  God. 


One  step  to  the  bird's  flight, 

(Scaling  this  ladder  true,) 
Then  to  clouds,  then  to  sky's  height, 

So  climb  we  by  bird,  cloud  and  blue, 
From  earth  to  God  in  the  Light. 


© 


THE  WIND 

WIND,  world-breath,  blow  far  and  free! 

Reveal  by  myriad,  soulful  chords 
Man's  lineage  and  his  destiny  — 

His  spirit's  birth — in  speechless  words. 


From  what  far  fountain  flows  your  might, 
Trade-winds  of  God,  that  sweep  and  fan, 

In  viewless,  swift,  mysterious  flight, 
The  spirit  of  each  living  man  ? 

To  what  abysses  vast,  ungauged, 
Plunge  all  your  subtile  clans  of  air  ? 

Where  rest  your  eagle-circlings  caged, 

Whose  hand  holds  you  in  thralldom  there  ? 
16 


•Qdotabip  in  tbe  ;fl&ountatns 

From  God  ye  come — to  God  ye  go, 

And  where  He  wills,  ye  bend  your  flight. 

Spirit  is  born, — O  winds  that  blow, — 
Born  of  the  Spirit  Infinite ! 


WORSHIP  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 

^YlVf^f  ITHIN  Thy  sanctuary,  Lord,  to-day 
\J  %[ A      I  am,  though  far  from  church  or 

chancelled  shrine ; 
Here  is  deep  silence,  here  the  hush  divine, 
Which  falls  or  ere  the  priest  says,  M  Let  us  pray  !  " 
The  stones  of  this  cathedral  are  unhewn  ; 

Its   clustered   pillars   spread  broad  boughs  of 
green ; 
Thy  temple's  chastened  light,  this  sun  at  noon, 
Whose  brightness,  clouds,  like  drifted  incense, 
screen. 

Uplands  of  God,  unrolled  to  purest  space, 
His  fitting  temple  are  ye,  vast  and  high ! 

Here  wait  I  for  Thy  amplitudes  of  grace, 
O  Lord,  unmeasured  as  this  wind-swept  sky. 

And  here,  if  yet  I  may  not  see  Thy  face, 
Still  let  me  see  Thy  glory  passing  by. 

In  the  White  Mountains, 
Bethlehem,  N.  H. 


17 


Cbe  Cloud 

THE  CLOUD 


XL 


HOU  little  cloud,  alone  in  the  blue, 
Afloat  in  the  infinite  light, 

How  purely  white  is  thy  glorified  hue, 
How  far  is  thy  limitless  flight ! 


Slow  drifting  along  on  air-lines  of  grace, 

Softly  sinking,  again  to  rise, 
Thou  findest  a  course  through  oceans  of  space 

To  what  unknown  port  in  the  skies  ? 

Beneath  horizons  beyond  our  ken, 

Down  verges  we  cannot  see, 
Are  they  gathered,  the  cumulous  clouds  of  thy 
clan  ? 

Dost  thou  drift  where  thy  kindred  be  ? 

I,  too,  as  I  sail  in  the  infinite  void, 

Look  over  the  rim  of  the  world, 
And  there  lies  my  country,  spacious  and  wide, 

And  the  port  where  my  sails  shall  be  furled. 

Unseen  horizons  serenely  bright, 

When  my  flight  of  a  day  shall  cease, 
Shall  receive  me,  as  thee,  to  the  cloud-hosts  of 
light, 
To  the  beautiful  souls  at  peace. 
18 


"Reminiscence  ot  CbilDbooO 


REMINISCENCE  OF  CHILDHOOD 


Z 


O-DAY  the  glory  came  again  ! 

It  fell  on  sky  and  field  and  flower ; 
The  childish  charm  of  shine  and  sheen 
The  old,  entrancing  power. 


The  clouds  were  chariots  filled  with  light ; 

The  sunshine  was  a  sevenfold  day. 
The  shadows  on  the  mountain  height 

Were  miles  and  miles  away. 

On  golden-rod  and  glistening  grass, 
On  shimmering,  trefoil  clover,  fell 

The  sorcery  of  the  magic  past, 
The  early  witchcraft  spell. 

On  sapphire  sea,  on  reef  and  bar, 
On  tranquil  islands  moored  in  blue, 

On  white-winged  craft,  on  prow  and  spar, 
Fell  the  ecstatic  hue. 

And  so  I  know  the  splendour  still ; 

The  glamour  hath  not  vanished  quite. 
That  glory  haunts  the  world,  and  will, 

Though  hidden  from  my  sight. 

Imperishable,  it  cannot  die, 

The  first  great  grace  that  living  gave  — 
Childhood's  deep  sense  of  earth  and  sky 

Goes  with  me  to  the  grave. 

Mt.  Desert,  Maine. 

19 


Gruet 


© 


TRUST 

NE  word  is  very  precious, 

It  speaks  my  Father's  care,— 
That  word  about  the  sparrows 
And  the  numbering  of  our  hair  ; 
And  when  my  heart  is  trembling 

His  watchfulness  to  know, 

Then  gently  falls  another  word, 

"  See  how  the  lilies  grow." 


"  O,  therefore,  be  not  anxious," 

I  say  this  o'er  and  o'er, 
"  For  ye  are  of  more  value 

Than  sparrows — so  much  more ; " 
I  cannot  feel  forgotten 

By  God's  great  love  and  might, 
Although  I  am  so  small  a  one 

'Mid  creatures  infinite. 


How  surely  stand  they  written, 

The  sweet  words  I  recall : 
Without  His  loving  watch-care, 

He  sees  no  sparrow  fall. 
"  Fear  not !     O,  be  not  anxious,' 

I  say  it  o'er  and  o'er, 
"  For  ye  are  of  more  value  — 

More  value — so  much  more." 

20 


Gbe  Grace  ot  God 

THE  GRACE  OF  GOD 

BS  sea-birds  ride  upon  the  waves, 
So  floats  my  soul  on  grace ; 
Nor  other  resting-place  she  craves 
In  wide,  world-weary  space. 
A  deep,  illimitable  sea 
Of  sunlit  azure,  running  free, 
Rocks  underneath  her  placid  breast 

With  soft,  pacific  swell 
Upbearing  her  in  perfect  rest ; 
She  knows  that  all  is  well ! 

The  seas  of  God  unbounded  roll, 

Their  shores  no  eye  can  trace. 
Unfathomed,  underneath  my  soul 

They  lie,  those  Deeps  of  Grace. 
And  whether  I  am  weak  or  strong, 
Grace  still  is  broad  and  deep  and  long. 
Upbearing  not  of  self  is  this  ; 

Of  self  it  lies  outside. 
Grace  buoys  me  on  its  clear  abyss, 

On  to  God's  Glory-tide. 


it 


THE  OLIVE  TREES 

LOVE  the  olives  gnarled  and  gray  ; 
Beneath  them  knelt  my  Lord  to  pray. 
When  o'er  the  hills  the  wind  breathes  light 
How  blanch  their  boughs  to  silvery  white ! 
21 


XTbe  Gbouobt  of  (BoD 

Wlien  rosy-purple  morning  weaves 
A  burnished  brightness  o'er  their  leaves, 
As  exquisite  their  traceried  shade 
As  if  by  gauzy  pinions  made. 

When  tropic  suns  with  noontide  heat 
On  bent  black  boles  and  branches  beat, 
Their  pearly  leaves  against  the  blue 
Are  cool  as  from  a  bath  of  dew. 

Their  fine,  faint  foliage  fills  the  plain 
Like  softly  drifting  summer  rain. 
Their  ranks,  by  shimmering  breezes  kissed, 
Seem  spectral  trees  all  made  of  mist. 

They  seem  to  dream  with  veiled  grace, 
And  wait  the  sight  of  one  blest  face. 
His  glad  return  they  long  to  see 
Who  prayed  beneath  an  olive-tree ! 


/Ifc 


THE  THOUGHT  OF  GOD 

Y  soul  floats  in  the  thought  of  God, 

As  birds  float  in  the  air  ; 
Like    them,    from    thickets    dark   she 
springs, 
And  the  low  grounds  of  care  ; 
Upward  they  fly,  and  I  too  soar ; 
With  one  glad  thought  my  spirit  sings, 
For  I  escape  from  ranges  bare 

22 


Gbe  Song  of  tbe  JBag 


1 


To  the  full  thought  of  Him 
Whom  I  adore. 

The  birds  may  swim 
In  tideless  seas  of  air  above  ; 
But  I  float  resting  in  God's  love. 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  BAY 

AM  a  part  of  rolling  oceans  wide, 
Though  landlocked  now  I  lie  serene. 

My  waters  ebb  and  flow  with  every  tide, 
Drawn  by  a  force  unseen. 


I  hear  the  sounding  surf  beat  on  the  shore  ; 

My  gently  rippling  waves  prolong 
The  mystic  music,  echoing  evermore 

The  ceaseless,  wind-swept  song. 

How  subtly  calls  the  ocean  unto  me ! 

And  asks  response  how  intimate ! 
Deep  calling  unto  deep — my  little  sea 

Makes  answer  to  the  great. 

The  bay  still  answers  to  the  ocean's  tone, — 
Man's  spirit  to  the  challenge-call 

That  makes  the  moment  of  his  being  one 
With  the  Eternal  All. 

23 


EMstant  Suet 


DISTANT  SURF 


f 


AR,  far  across  the  bay, 

Leap  foaming  crests  of  white,  — 
Beyond  the  bar  and  dim  dunes  gray, 

Flashing  an  argent  light. 


On  backgrounds  blue,  the  sea 
Flings  lustrous,  sudden  jets, — 

Gigantic  fountains  playing  free, 
Where  the  coast  current  sets. 

Far,  far  away,  they  seem 

Like  spectral  sheeted  arms 
That  lift  and  beckon  with  the  gleam 

Of  vanishing,  weird  forms. 

Whence  rise  they,  whither  go  ? 

Foam  from  what  hidden  sea  ? 
Or  flash  they  like  swift  thoughts  that  show 

How  near,  Eternity ! 

Wcsthampton  Beech,  L.  J.,  /goj. 


% 


THE  OCEAN  OF  GRACE 

IKE  the  ocean  flowing,  flowing, 

Round  these  stony  reaches  brown, 
Filling  every  rough  indenture, 
Striving  every  rock  to  drown  — 
24 


Saturday  Evening  in  Idlnter 

So  the  grace  of  God  is  pouring 

Round  us  from  its  deeps  profound; 

Rolling  in  its  glorious  fullness 
On  our  barren  being's  bound. 

Runs  the  sea  round  small  and  greater, 

Over  hollow,  over  height ; 
Fitting  to  each  crenelled  contour 

Its  elastic  waters  bright. 
So  God's  love  our  need  encircles 

With  its  liquid,  sunlit  tide, 
Leaping  up  in  foam-white  beauty, 

Each  unlovely  ledge  to  hide. 

And  our  stony,  gray-black  sorrows, 

Piercing,  rough, — His  great  love  laves 
Till  they  seem  immersed  in  glory, 

Over-washed  with  emerald  waves. 
And  above  them,  clear  as  crystal, 

Curve  on  curve  in  purpling  space, 
Roll  in  endless  undulations 

God's  pure  ocean-deeps  of  grace  ! 

SATURDAY  EVENING  IN  WINTER 


(3 


RAY  is  the  landscape  and  gray  is  the  sky, 

Gray  the  expanse  of  the  flat  river-bed, 
Rimmed  with  the  snow,  where  its  tufted 
banks  lie ; 
Gray  stretch  the  meadow-lands,  shrouded  and 
dead. 

25 


5aturDa£  Evening  in  Mintec 

Gray,  the  clouds  meet  the  horizon's  gray  edge  ; 

Gray,  the  woods  cover  the  grayer  hillside  ; 
Gray  is  the  cornfield,  and  gray  is  the  sedge  ; 

Gray  the  far  slope  where  once  greenness  spread 
wide. 


Traceries  fine  on  this  background  of  gray, 
Drawn  by  the  tree-tops  with  exquisite  art, 

Blend  with  the  low  monochord  of  a  day 
Gray  and  more  gray  as  its  moments  depart. 

Down  by  the  river,  long  rows  of  dull  light 

Gleam  where   the  weavers  weave    on  at  the 
loom. 

Lights  of  the  mill,  gray  world  and  gray  night 
Speak  of  earth's  weariness,  labour  and  gloom. 

Saturday  night,  in  a  gray,  hoary  world, 

Grown   gray   and    numb    in    the   nightfall   of 
Time. 
Gray  is  man's  life  as  'tis  shuttle-wise  whirled 
With  the  woof  of  his  toil  through  the  warp  of 
his  crime. 

Earth's  week  of  Time  swiftly  wears  to  its  close, 
Purple-gray  twilight  still  darkening  to  night. 

Break,  Sabbath  dawn,  with  thy  joy  and  repose, 
Break,  Day  of  God,  with  millennial  light ! 
26 


s 


Cbancel  jflowere 

CHANCEL  FLOWERS 

ANG  the  congregation,  praising, 

"  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  !  " 
While  the  daisies  worshipped,  raising 

Silently  the  threefold  word. 


Standing  in  their  snowy  whiteness, 
Fresh  and  fair  and  free  from  blame, 

Sang  they  in  their  childlike  brightness, 
"  All  Thy  works  shall  praise  Thy  name ! 

Reverent  in  guileless  wonder, 

Crowned  with  starry,  petaled  rays, 

Seemed  they  like  the  seraphs  yonder, 
So  serene  and  clear  their  gaze. 

Voiceless,  flowery  congregation, 

Add  your  sweet  notes  to  the  chord ! 

Chanting  with  the  wide  creation, 
"  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  !  " 

"  Only  Thou  art  holy,"  singing 

With  soft,  speechless  lips  of  love  — 

Adoration  mute,  yet  ringing 
In  the  ear  of  God  above  ! 


27 


fflowers  at  Communton 

FLOWERS  AT  COMMUNION 


G 


YPES  of  the  Lord's  own  purity  and  peace, 

White  lilies  standing  in  the  holy  place, 
Emblems  ye  seem  of  His  own  righteous- 
ness, 
So  clothed  upon  are  ye  with  heavenly  grace. 


Or  types  ye  may  be,  mid  your  leaves  of  green, 
Of  true  believers,  still  mid  earthliness  ; 

Yet  even  now  upon  them  is  the  sheen 
Of  Jesus'  beauty  and  His  seamless  dress. 

Types  are  ye  too  of  that  transforming  strange 
Which  shall  fall  on  us  in  our  rising  hour, 

When  immortality's  white  mystic  change 

Shall  thrill  our  mortal,  with  its  deathless  power. 

When,  smitten  through  with  radiance  and  with 
bliss 

And  sudden  glory  from  the  holy  place, 
We  shall  be  made  like  Him,  and  as  He  is, 

When  we  behold  our  Saviour  face  to  face. 

NOONTIDE  HOURS 

BLL  beginnings  have  their  zest ; 
Every  ending  bringeth  rest ; 
Rhythmic  throb,  impelling  ever, 
Rest  and  zest, — ease  and  endeavour. 
Morning  hours  are  filled  with  zest, 
Evening  hours  are  crowned  with  rest. 
28 


Gbe  /fcorntng  Star 


But  calm  eves  and  mornings  green 
Have  their  long,  bright  day  between 
When  the  noontide  burneth  hot, 
Zest  hath  vanished,  rest  comes  not. 
Still  the  labour  must  be  done ; 
Rest  comes  not  till  set  of  sun. 

Patience,  then,  O  soul  of  mine  ! 
Now  thy  labour  grows  divine  ! 
For  in  sultry  noontide  hours 
Duty  girds  thee  with  fresh  powers. 
Duty,  though  should  fail  thy  zest, 
Leads  thee,  victor,  to  sweet  rest. 


THE  MORNING  STAR 

fSAW  a  watcher  in  the  sky 
Stand  on  a  golden  cloud  ; 
Through  the  still  dawning  clear  and  high 
He  blew  a  trumpet  loud. 
The  music  floated  through  the  air 

On  flying  wings  of  sound, 
And  left  crystalline  echoes  there, 

Or  died  in  deeps  profound. 
Heaven's  sentinel  had  left  ajar 

Some  hidden  gallery  door, 
And  from  this  balcony  afar 

In  glory,  did  he  pour 
On  mortal  ears  a  little  space 
Surpassing  harmonies  of  grace, 
29 


Cbc  BIpe 

And  flashed  on  mortal  sight 

Serenities  of  light. 

From  outposts  of  Heaven's  battlement, 

Missed  from  seraphic  choirs, 
Through  boundless  ether  still  unspent, 

He  sped  his  mystic  fires. 
This  watcher  in  the  amber  skies  afar, 
Men  call  bright  Phosphorus,  the  morning  star. 


THE  ALPS 

ffl^E  strong,  be  strong! "  had  ever  been  to  me 
J     The  song  of  hills,  the  chant  of  moun- 
tain voice. 
But    now   one   word    alone    I    hear, 
"  Rejoice  ! " 
When,  leaping  far  to  Heaven,  in  purity, 
Fair,  burnished  heights  on  every  side  I  see. 
One  only  word  this  vast  white  grandeur  speaks ; 
"  Jov  •'     Jov  •  "  breaks  forth  from  countless  sil- 
ver peaks. 
They  shine  and  shout  in  a  wild  mountain-glee ! 

Like  high-born  sons  of  God,  your  voices  raise, 
Ye   alpine    domes    and    heavenward   piercing 

spires  ! 
Let  strange,  ethereal  chanting  of  your  choirs 
Join  stars  and  suns  that  know  high,  rapturous  ways 

To  bless  our  God  !     Let  rosy  evening  fires 
That  smite  your  alabaster  brows,  cry,"  Praise!  " 
30 


Gbe  Sea*l)otce 

THE  SEA-VOICE 

fREST  beside  the  many  voiced  sea; 
Its  mighty  pulses  throb  along  the  shore ; 
Wild    rising   winds,  in    northern   forests 
hoar, 
Alone  strike  harmonies  so  grandly  free. 
This  age-long  anthem  rises,  Lord,  to  Thee ; 
Thee,  Thee  alone,  these  sounding  waves  adore ; 
Thy  way  is  in  the  sea,  and  evermore 
They    chant   Thy  glory's   praise   in    changeless 

key. 
Like  Thy  deep  mystery, — this  mysterious  deep  ; 
Like  Thine,  this  voice  of  vast,  majestic  tone. 
From  far  sea-spaces,  and  from  depths  unknown, 
Like  thoughts  of  Thine  these  billows  shoreward 

leap,— 
Thy    waves     of     loving     thought,    that    never 

cease, 
To  usward  borne  from  Thy  great  central  Peace. 


THE  RIVER,  LOOKING  WESTWARD 

inl  Y  landscape  far  to  westward  spreads  — 
f        1       Fair    uplands,    green,    or    white,    or 
brown, 
As  Summer,  leaf-fall,  Winter's  crown, 
A  changing  glory  o'er  them  sheds. 

31 


^enlargement 

No  glint  of  water  all  the  day  ! 

Yet  sometimes  when  the  sun  is  low 
The  level  lights  of  evening  show 

Curved  lines  of  silver  far  away. 

Like  swords  they  cut  the  fields  and  trees, 

And  tell  me  that  a  river  clear 

Winds  through  my  landscape  all  the  year, 
Still  flowing  on,  though  no  man  sees. 

So  sometimes,  when  the  sun  's  low  down, 
A  deep,  fair  crystal  river  gleams, 
Cleaving  the  landscape  of  our  dreams, — 

God's  river  flowing  by  His  throne ! 

Amherst,  Mass. 


© 


ENLARGEMENT 

THY  fullness,  flowing  sea  ! 

Not  thy  music,  not  thy  motion 
Utters  such  a  prophecy 

As  thine  amplitude,  O  ocean. 


Where  thy  liquid  silver  laves 
Tropic  isles  or  torrid  beaches  ; 

Where  thy  green,  translucent  waves 
Wash  o'er  waste,  wan,  arctic  reaches, 

Ever  is  such  fullness  thine 

In  thy  coming  and  thy  going, 

That  thou  art  a  type  divine 
Of  the  Infinite  o'erflowing. 
32 


Cbe  Graes 


Heart  of  man,  be  not  afraid  ! 

Every  craving  shall  find  stilling ; 
For  eternity  was  made, 

Like  the  sea,  full,  for  fulfilling. 

Soul  of  man,  thy  scope  shall  be 
Widened,  as  thy  aspiration, 

When  enlargement  like  the  sea 
Sweeps  away  all  limitation. 


Z 


THE  GRASS 

HIS  wand-like  stem  of  grass 
Answers  all  winds  that  pass, 
Bows  low  before  their  might, 
Or  thrills  to  touches  light. 


So  bend,  my  heart,  in  love, 
To  airs  breathed  from  above. 
Thy  root  is  in  the  earth, 
Fragile  as  grass  thy  birth, 

Yet  o'er  thee,  like  the  grass, 
Breaths  of  God's  Spirit  pass. 
A  child  of  heaven  thou  art,— 
Believe  it,  oh,  my  heart ! 


33 


Gwo  Voices 

TWO  VOICES 

^^\NO  sounds  I  hear  this  Autumn  day. 
^1^,     One  is  the  booming  surf  afar  ; 
Far,  far  away,  beyond  the  dune 
Across  the  bay,  the  billows  play, 

And  break  beneath  the  October  noon. 

One  is  the  murmurous  monotone 
Of  crickets  in  the  yellowing  grass  ; 

Singing  alone,  so  close  at  hand, 
By  roof  and  stone,  though  summer's  flown,- 

A  human  sound  amid  the  land. 

One  chants  of  long  eternity  ; 
One  sings  the  dear  and  daily  life. 

The  crickets'  glee,  his  artless  art, 
How  sweet  to  me  !     But  oh,  the  sea, 

The  sea — unfathomed  as  my  heart ! 


34 


Vision 


CLAIR-AUDIENCE 

Af  AST  night  I  heard  the  angels 
J^j      Low  talking  round  my  bed, 
In  holy  circle  standing, 
And  this  is  what  they  said:  — 
(Their  folded  wings  were  moveless, 

More  lustrous  than  the  light ; 
And  some  were  crowned,  and  some  wore 
plumes 
Than  snow  more  snowy  white.) 

They  said  in  rapt  sweet  voices  : 

"  O  happy,  happy  one  ! 
Thy  earthly  life  is  over, 

Thy  heavenly  life  is  won! 
Come  with  us  to  the  glory 

And  bliss  thou  art  to  share, — 
Glories  of  life  eternal, 

Lustres  of  heavenly  air  !  " 

Since  then  they  fill  the  sunshine, 

Their  voices  always  sing  ; 
And  every  day  it  seems  they  may 

Come  back  on  rapid  wing. 
But  should  they  come,  and  say  again 

Those  words  of  love  to  me, 
I  should  not  die,  but  go  with  them 

For  very  ecstasy ! 

37 


©ur  Blement 


OUR  ELEMENT 


H 


WING  implies  the  air, 

From  fins  infer  the  sea, 
From  stealthy  tread,  the  lion's  lair ; 

And  honey  means  the  bee. 


From  tides  we  learn  the  power 

Inherent  in  the  moon. 
The  golden  grain  denotes  the  shower 

At  morn  and  eve  and  noon. 

The  range  of  winds  is  wide, 
Space  they  must  have  to  fly. 

The  planet  with  his  sun  must  bide 
A  linked  unity. 

An  element,  a  cause 

All  things  in  nature  claim, — 
A  bound,  a  bourne,  abiding  laws, 

A  hope,  a  home,  an  aim  ; 

A  complement  is  given 
Throughout  creation  broad 

To  every  being  under  heaven  : — 
Man's  element  is  God. 


38 


f 


Gbe  "Upward  Xoofc 

THE  UPWARD  LOOK 

ROM  our  low,  familiar  places, 

From  our  homes  beneath  the  trees, 

We  look  up  to  wide  star-spaces 
And  the  far  immensities. 


So  our  eyes  from  tasks  most  lowly 
'Mid  the  service  of  the  day, 

May  look  up  to  places  holy, 
And  God's  glory  far  away. 


S 


MORNING 

OAR,  soar,  my  soul,  into  the  blue, 
The  blue  of  God's  great  love  ! 

This  morning  soar,  as  free  birds  do, 
To  the  far  skies  above  ! 


The  fair  cloud  swims  in  deeps  of  air, 
Buoyed  by  fresh  currents  strong ; 

Smitten  by  splendour  white  and  rare, 
It  drifts  the  blue  along. 

So  thou  may'st  float  in  God's  blue  deep 
Filled  by  His  light  and  love. 

So  currents  of  His  grace  may  sweep, 
Around,  beneath,  above  ! 
39 


Gbe  H)aB6 

THE  DAYS 


C 


ALYPSO-LIKE,  close-veiled,  finger  on  lip, 
All  featureless  the  swift  days  pass, 

With  hands  disjoined  and  broken  speech 
they  slip, 
Like  shadows  o'er  the  grass. 


No  bond  connects  their  dim,  chaotic  train ; 

Invisible  their  aim  and  trend. 
Fragments  they  seem  of  some  unwelded  chain, 

And  have  no  ordered  end. 

The  unsubstantial  forms  of  fleeting  days 
Are  buried  deep  where  spectres  hide. 

Their  footprints  fail  by  land  and  waterways, 
Outwashed  by  Time's  fierce  tide. 

So  veiled,  each  day  glides  by  as  in  a  masque ; 

A  separate  thing,  it  mateless  moves. 
What  inner  link  unites  our  days,  we  ask, 

And  what  their  oneness  proves? 

Ah,  when  eternity's  full  streaming  light 

Shall  fuse  our  incoherent  days, 
How  will  they  shine  in  one  long  radiance  bright, 

Blended  before  our  gaze  ! 

Lo,  subtle,  blinding  links  flash  in  the  sun ! 

Lo,  the  swift  passing  of  eclipse ! 
The  unveiled  days  their  meanings  merge  in  one, 

In  Life's  Apocalypse. 
40 


a  Gbouabt 

A  THOUGHT 

/^OD  sent  a  winged  thought 
^  \J       Into  my  soul  one  day, 

And  bade  me  send  it  out  again 
With  unabated  ray 
Of  burnished  beauty,  silver  bright, 
And  wings  unshorn  of  might. 

God  has  great  store  of  such 

White  thoughts,  swift,  buoyant  things. 
And  when  He  wills,  they  touch  us 

With  the  wafture  of  their  wings. 
They  touch  us  on  their  gleaming  way  — 
Their  wings  forbid  their  stay. 

Onward  their  blessed  flight ! 

To  other  hearts  they  bear 
Their  beauty  and  their  light. 

Heaven's  rapture  and  its  radiant  air 
Breathe  round  us,  when  God  sends  them 

down, — 
That  day,  we  wear  a  crown ! 


3 


THE  SEA  BEYOND  THE  BAR 

UST  looking  at  the  bar 

We  should  not  dream  that  far 
The  ocean  rolled  on  its  illimitable  way 
Beyond  the  bay. 
41 


Departure 

The  bar  bounds  all,  and  lies 
Where  meet  the  earth  and  skies. 
We  see  no  surging  waves,  nor  hear  their  mystic 
runes 

Beyond  the  dunes. 

2fC  3JC  ?JC  3JC  ^C 

Across  the  bay,  my  barge 
Cruises  to  that  dim  marge. 
Or  fast  or  slow  my  course,  it  endeth  at  the  bar 
That  lies  afar. 

There,  there  shall  meet  my  sight 
A  sea  of  living  light. 
There  shall  the  ocean  of  God's  love  upon  the 
shore 

Break  evermore ! 

Qnogue,  L.  /.,  /goj. 


Z 


DEPARTURE 

HE  phantom-fleet  stood  off  the  shore! 

Inaudible  and  swift  as  light, 
Anchors  invisible  did  moor 

Their  black  keels  in  the  night. 


At  morn  they  swayed  with  ebb  and  tide 
All  taut  and  trim  in  shroud  and  sheet. 

Just  when  the  cables  slipped,  none  spied, 
Nor  tracked  the  outbound  fleet. 
42 


Zbe  JEvcrxirxQ  Star 


We  only  knew  the  sails  were  gone, 
And  hollow  winds  were  all  abroad ; 

And  one,  with  them,  beyond  the  dawn 
Sailed  the  fair  seas  of  God. 


THE  EVENING  STAR 

♦g^  Y  the  rapt  ardour  of  my  gaze, 
■  Fj     I  sought  to  hold  the  evening  star 
Above  the  dark  horizon  bar, 
Where,  lamp-like,  swung  its  mellow  blaze. 

But  towards  the  deepening  glow  it  drew, 
And  nearer  to  the  crimson  belts 
Wherein  the  amber  affluence  melts, 

Seeking  far  heavens,  fresh  and  new. 

So  sought  I  once  to  hold  a  soul 
Fair  as  the  holy  star  of  night, 
Above  the  earth-line,  in  my  sight, 

By  force  of  Love's  supreme  control. 

But  glory  ward  it  dipped  and  drew, 
Nor  stayed  for  ardour  of  my  gaze, 
Passing  from  out  our  earthly  ways 

To  those  far  heavens  which  are  the  new. 
43 


jijour  JBeloveD 

YOUR  BELOVED 


XL 


HEY  will  vanish,  disappearing 

On  some  passing  day, 
And  you  cannot,  cannot  find  them, 

Seek  them  as  you  may. 


They  will  vanish,  swiftly  fleeting, 

When  you  think  not  so ; 
While  your  very  hands  they're  clasping, 

Softly  they  will  go. 

They  will  vanish.     Oh,  then  cherish 

Your  beloved  well ! 
Ere  they  glide  to  that  fair  country 

Where  the  lovely  dwell. 

Ere  from  house  and  hill  and  meadow 

Gently  they've  withdrawn, 
Veiled  within  mysterious  shadows, 

Till  the  New  Day  dawn ! 


THE  AWAKENING 

"When  I  awake  I  am  still  with  Thee." 

©SAVIOUR,  gently  let  Thy  glory  break 
Upon  my  soul,  when  from  the  dark  of 
death 
Upborne,  I  draw  the  first  pure  spirit's  breath 
Before  Thy  sapphire  throne.    When  thus  I  wake, 
44 


"  BnD  CbeB  Sball  Ittalfc  lUitb  fl>e  in  *cabitc  " 

Shade  Thou  mine  eyes  with  Thy  pierc'd  hand ; 
nor  take 

Me  first  where  light  incessant  quivereth 

From  fountains  of  full  Godhead ;  but  beneath 
A  veiled  glory,  hide  me,  for  love's  sake. 
Nor  let  the  rapturous  burst  of  seraph-song 

Come  first  amid  the  glories  of  the  place ; 
Nor  triumph-music  of  the  answering  throng ; 

But  Thine  own  voice,  with  sweet,  familiar  grace ; 
So  hearing  Thee  I  shall  grow  glad  and  strong, 
Nor  fear  the  glory  since  I  see  Thy  Face. 


"  AND  THEY  SHALL  WALK  WITH  ME 
IN  WHITE" 

♦#JWERE,    'tis    the    following  footsteps,    the 
te  f    J  walking  after  Him, 

With  ofttimes  dusty  garments,  all  lustre- 
less and  dim. 
There,  'tis  the  walking  with  Him,  above  there  in 

the  light, 
With  His  our  footsteps  timing,  walking  with  Him 
in  white. 

Here  through  the  glass  but  darkly  His  features 

can  we  trace ; 
There  'tis  the  open  vision,  the  seeing  face  to  face. 
45 


^Expectation 

Here  the  wayfarer's  greeting,  the  tarrying  for  a 

night ; 
There  'tis  the  converse  endless,  walking  with  Him 

in  white. 

Here  'tis  the  childish  knowledge,  the  seeing  but 

in  part ; 
There  intuition  perfect  of  the  illumined  heart. 
Here  Faith  and  Hope  must  lift  us  upon  their 

pinions  bright; 
There  Love  alone  remaineth  when  we  shall  walk 

in  white. 

Here  'tis   the   hart-like  panting,  the  hunger  of 

desire ; 
There  'tis  the  blissful  union,  our  will  merged  in  a 

higher. 
There  'tis  the  satisfaction  attained  by  fullest  sight, 
The  fellowship  unending,  walking  with  Him  in 

white. 


ir 


EXPECTATION 

YIELDED  up  a  rose  to  God, 

With  golden  stamens,  petals  white ; 

He  keeps  it,  till  the  glad  day  comes 
When  I  shall  see  it  bloom  in  light. 

A  sweet  song  floated  up  to  God, 
A  life-song,  thrilling  near  my  own; 

But  I  shall  hear  it  some  glad  morn, 
High  carolling  before  His  throne. 

46 


Cbe  Sea 


THE  SEA 

^^HE  sea  is  near  !     How  near  ? 
tU     Across  this  narrow  bar, 

Not  far,  not  far  ! 
Beyond  this  gray-green  dune 
Edged  with  the  yellow  sand, 
The  surf  beats  on  the  strand. 

This  side  the  dune,  the  bay 
Is  blue.     White  sails,  a  host, 
Flock  to  the  coast. 

They  moor ;  the  voyagers  cross 
Where  sands  a  pathway  make, 
And  lo,  the  billows  break ! 

Eternity  is  near ! 

How  near  ?     Across  the  bar, 

Not  far,  not  far ! 
Beyond  the  dune  of  death 

The  boundless  billows  roll 

And  call  the  waiting  soul. 

This  side  of  death  is  life  — 
A  little  bay, — and  swift 
The  sails  that  lift 

Are  furled, — the  voyage  done. 
Beyond  the  bar  the  sea 
Calls,  calls — eternity  I 

Quogue,  L.  /.,  1903. 

47 


across  tbe  Gtfce 

ACROSS  THE  TIDE 


B 


LL  shores  look  fair  across  the  tide ; 

There,  hearts  are  ever  gay  and  glad; 
And  opalescent  shadows  hide 

The  dark,  the  rough,  the  sad. 


What  peaceful  fields,  what  meadows  fair, 
And  all  the  hillsides  flecked  with  light ! 

There  lurks  no  curse  of  carking  care, 
Nor  ever  falls  the  night. 

What  witchcraft  this,  that  lays  so  low 
The  craggy  mountains  bare  and  steep  ? 

That  veils  in  amethyst  the  flow 
Of  rivers  wild  and  deep  ? 

What  painter  laid  the  belts  of  blue, 
And  dipped  in  violet  tints  his  brush  ? 

Who  spread  o'er  all  that  pearly  hue  ? 
Who  breathed  that  waiting  hush  ? 

So  hither  shores,  whereon  to-day 

We  stand  and  watch  the  waters  wide, 

Will,  in  far  years,  far,  far  away, 
Look  fair,  across  the  tide  ! 

Mt.  Desert,  iSgb. 

48 


"dnseen  Streams 

UNSEEN  STREAMS 

^||C  ID  the  deep  mystery  of  Alpine  moun- 
f\\  J         tains 

The  voices  of  the  unseen  waters  call, 
And  streams  invisible,  from  hidden  fountains 
Weave  music  many-voiced,  from  fall  to  fall. 

Invisible,  but  heard,  their  rhythmic  singing, 
Nor  ever  silent  they  by  night  or  day. 

To  their  low  bass  the  sweet  "  ranz  "  echoes,  ring- 
ing 
From  lofty  alps  and  far-off  meadows  gay. 

Glacier-born  streams  sound  on  and  on  forever, 
From  old  Eternity  they  keep  their  flow. 

Threading  their  mystic  way,  each  shining  river 
Falls  from  the  heights  of  everlasting  snow. 

From  daring  peak,  from  glacier  grim  and  dismal, 
From  shady  dell  and  pine-clad  slopes  o'erhead, 

Down  to  the  depths  below,  profound,  abysmal, 
They  find  the  narrow  valley's  lowly  bed, 

Seeking  the  ocean  thro'  their  many  changes 

Invisibly,  with  musical  soft  flow. 
So  from  the  heart's  deep  clefts  and  lofty  ranges, 
Unseen  by  man,  towards  God  our  life-streams 
go- 

49 


Xove  and  Deatb 

LOVE  AND  DEATH 
A  Painting  by  Watts 

/f^N  love's  own  threshold  Death  is  crushing 
V^/         Love. 

Swift   ebbs    Love's   pulse,  fast  fails  his 
breath. 
More  faintly  now  his  broken  pinions  move. 
Inexorable  Death ! 

The  speechless  anguish  of  Love's  pleading  eyes 

Dims  now,  and  every  violet  vein 
With  vivid  voice  on  Death  for  mercy  cries. 
Death  is  unmoved  by  pain ! 

It  is  not  that  Death  will,  but  that  he  must 

Force  entrance  in  at  Love's  rose-wreathed  door; 
His  hand  is  on  the  latch,  his  arm  outthrust  — 
His  footfall  on  the  floor. 

His  muffling  veil,  his  drapery  of  doom 

Defy  Love's  fragile  form.     On,  on, 
He  presses,  in  mysterious,  mighty  gloom. 
Must  Love  be  overthrown  ? 

Oh,  Death  is  strong  !     Yet  his  hid  face  e'en  now 

Love  sees — and  cries  with  rapturous  breath 
While  light  prophetic  flames  upon  his  brow, 
"  Hail,  dear  deliverer,  Death ! " 
50 


IT 


Disarminfi  £>eatb 

DISARMING  DEATH 

SOUGHT  to  disarm  Death : 
All  aspects  that  had  pained 

I  put  away — the  blackened  pall,  the 
freezing  breath ; 
But  Death  himself  remained. 


The  insignia  of  woe, 

I  cast  them  far  away. 
I  let  the  sunshine  through  the  shrouded 
windows  flow ; 

I  decked  the  house  with  day. 

I  said,  "  No  pallid  flowers  ! 

Bring  crimson  beauties  bright ! 
No  bier,  no  crape,  no  self-imprisoning 
hours ! 

But  colour,  sunshine,  light ! " 

I  hid  each  weapon  grim, 

Each  accessory  broke. 
Because,  I  said,  perhaps  'tis  these  things 
give  to  him, 

His  power  to  strike  the  stroke. 

And  did  I  Death  disarm 

Of  lacerating  spear, 
Of  armour  black,  of  sword,  of  gloom,  of 
wild  alarm, 

Of  deep  abysmal  fear  ? 

51 


Xtfe 


How  useless  all  my  care ! 

How  impotent  my  act ! 
Still  saw  I   Death  inexorable  standing 
there, 

Himself  the  changeless  fact ! 


f 


LIFE 

SAW  life  on  the  battle-field. 
He  met  a  fierce  and  deadly  foe. 
I  heard  the  stroke.     I  saw  blood  flow. 
I  knew  Life  hurt.     He  did  not  yield ! 

Life  in  mid-ocean,  wrecked,  I  saw. 

Huge  seas  poured  o'er  his  shallop  slight. 

Submerged,  he  rose  with  dauntless  might, 
And  flung  himself  upon  the  prow. 

The  swirl  of  flames  enwrapped  frail  Life. 
This  time,  I  said,  no  power  can  snatch 
Doomed  Life  from  death.    Again  a  match 

He  proved  for  elements  at  strife. 

Once  more  in  direst  straits  Life  strove, 
Battling  with  error,  sin  and  want, 
Fell,  beastly  forms,  stealthy  and  gaunt ; 

But  far  his  combatants  he  drove. 

"  O  Life,"  I  cried,  "  what  force  divine 
Thine  unmatched  subtle  skill  supplies  ?  " 
"  I  cannot  die  !     Life  lives,  not  dies  ! 

Inherent  deathlessness  is  mine  !  " 
52 


© 


© 


Deatb 

DEATH 

DEATH,  to  my  Divinest  Lord 

Thou  art  the  door  ! 
Thou  art  the  opening  of  the  eyes 

Long  closed  before. 
Thou  art  the  lifting  of  the  lids 

On  Light  forevermore. 


ONLY  THE  DOOR 

NLY  a  throb  between  me  and  my  God ! 
One  final  heart-beat,  then  swift  surcease ; 
And  the  barrier  past, 
I  shall  be  at  last 
With  my  God  in  the  life  of  eternal  peace ! 


Z 


THEY  ARE  CALLING 

HEY  are  calling  to-night.     Yes,  voices  are 

calling, 
Voices  I  love  through  the  air  down  falling. 


They  are  smiling  to-night.     Yes,  faces  are  smil- 
ing, 
Faces  I  love — my  sorrow  beguiling. 

53 


An*ic 

They  arc  pleading  to-night,  yes,  sweet  tones  are 

pleading, 
Tones  that  I  love  are  interceding. 

Up  above, 

Down  below, 

In  love, 

Not  in  sorrow, 
They  strike  to  the  fathomless  fountains  of  feeling, 
They  swell  like  a  bell,  which  the  wind  sets  pealing. 

They  echo, 

Re-echo, 
They  die ; — no,  they  come  again,  faster  and  faster ; 
They  fade ; — no,  they  swell  again,  vaster  and  vaster. 
Like  billows  of  music  that  roll  to  the  shore 
They  flood  all  my  soul  with  memories  of  yore. 
Voices,  faces  and  tones,  ye  are  mine,  now  as 

never, 
Ye  are  part  of  my  being,  forever,  and  ever ! 


© 


MUSIC 

UR  boundless  nature,  fathomless  and  free, 

Lies  ocean-like,  unknown,  unstirred ; 
Till,  deep  to  deep,  music's  full,  flowing  sea 
Calls  out  an  answering  word. 


When  Music  strikes  wild  chords  of  mystic  might, 
Vast  floods  of  feeling  wake  from  sleep ; 

When  swift  arpeggios  run  like  leaping  light, 
Then  great  thoughts  through  us  sweep. 
54 


<5ofc'0  Braosica 

Her  subtle  harmonies  have  winged  flights, 

Her  silver  melodies  breathe  rest. 
Her  flutings  float  us  far  to  airy  heights 

Where  suns  flash  East  and  West. 

And  strangely  radiant  worlds  swim  into  view 

When  music  draws  our  spirit-bars. 
She  ranges,  since  the  first  great  Dawning  new, 

Mid  singing  morning  stars. 

GOD'S  ARGOSIES 

y^^OD'S  argosies  sail  true  ! 
^1J  Across  the  deeps  of  blue 

They  steer  straight  home. 
From  shores  that  dip  below 
Horizons  that  we  know, 
Laden  with  love  they  come. 

Their  stately  sails  are  set ; 
Their  spars  with  spray  are  wet ; 

They  ride  through  storm  and  sun. 
Direct  from  God  to  thee 
They  bear  across  the  sea 

Until  the  port  is  won. 

Mist-veiled,  or  struck  with  light, 
Through  day  or  darkest  night, 

Or  leagues  of  golden  space, 
They  bring  to  thee  from  far 
Beyond  the  evening  star 

God's  wealth  of  love  and  grace. 
55 


Gbunfcer,  IWUnfc,  5>awn 

THUNDER,  WIND,  DAWN 

♦fE^ AST  thou  heard  the  ominous  mutter  of 
;  J         the  thunder  roll? 

'Twas  the  shudder  and  vibration  of  thy 
guilty  soul. 
'Twas  a  voice  within  thee  filling  all  the  deep 

profound 
Of  thy  sentient  being  with  dire  judgment's  fear- 
ful sound. 


Hast  thou  heard  a  sound  mysterious  as  of  wind 

that  blows  ? 
Whence  it  cometh,  whither  goeth,  no  man  ever 

knows. 
'Twas  the  Spirit's  breath  creative,  breathing  life 

in  thee, 
Sweeping  through  thine  inmost  nature  in  sweet 

harmony. 


Hast  thou  seen  the  sphere-wide  glory  of  the 
dawning  hour, 

Casting  upward  light  prophetic  of  its  zenith- 
power  ? 

'Twas  the  Resurrection  day-dawn,  measureless  in 
scope, 

Widening  out  thy  mighty  future  with  the  sun 
of  Hope ! 

56 


Overflow 

OVERFLOW 
♦fj^ETWEEN  the  ocean  and  the  land-locked 

JU     bay 

For  many  a  league  runs  the  long  bar ; 
Low  heaving  dunes  of  sand  mark  out  its  way, 
Dim  in  the  distance  far. 

Where  dips  the  dune,  and  all  the  sand  is  low, 
Lie  colour-bands  of  blue — the  sea ! 

And  on  the  bar  its  waters  roll  and  flow, 
And  toss  their  white  manes  free. 

It  seems  across  that  narrow  marge  some  day 
The  ocean's  might  must  break,  and  merge 

The  surging  waters  with  the  rippling  bay, 
'Tis  such  a  narrow  verge  ! 

And  so,  some  day,  inrolling  from  afar, 

God's  mighty  Being  shall  my  spirit  brim ; — 

Bay,  ocean,  one ;  and  gone  the  slender  bar 
That  keeps  me  now  from  Him  ! 

Westhampton  Beach,  L.  I.,  igoj. 


DURHAM  CATHEDRAL 
The  Knocker  on  the  Sanctuary  Gate 

©F  all  the  ancient  history  of  thy  past, 
Imperial  fortress-minster,  on  thy  height 
Seated  in  unmoved  majesty  and  might, 
One  record  lives,  most  worthy  still  to  last, 
And  shows  the  heart  of  love  and  ruth  thou  hast. 

57 


BIB— festival  ot  Cboirs 

Of  old  thy  holy  brothers,  day  and  night 
Kept  watch  for  him  who  in  his  sin's  despite 
Fled,  seeking  refuge,  to  thy  stronghold  vast. 

In  the  wide  country  which  thy  turrets  sweep, 
A  "  sanctuary  "  thou,  from  grimmest  fate. 

The  fugitive's  faint  knock  gave  fear  surcease ! 
Perhaps  these  hollow  eyes  a  flame  did  keep, 

To  light  men  to  the  knocker  on  the  gate, 
Lest  any  fail  of  holy  M  Cuthbert's  Peace.' 


ELY— FESTIVAL   OF   CHOIRS, 

8th  JUNE,  1898 

The  Anthem 

^^O-DAY   the  great  cathedral  flowered  in 

^^         song, 

Its  being's  mighty  purpose  was  fulfilled 
What  time  a  thousand  voices  through  it  thrilled 
And  pealing  organs  lent  their  living  tongue. 
Now  all  is  over. — But  the  chorus  strong 

Yet  seems  to  rise,  though  every  note  is  stilled ; 
From  faintly  choiring  pinnacles  are  trilled 
Fine  airs  which  softest  overtones  prolong. 
Now  gray  against  the  grayer  evening  skies 
The    minster's    massive    frame    breathes   deep 
repose ; 
On  lace-like  parapet  and  turret  lies 

The  benison  that  lifted  praise  bestows ; 
And  shadowed  grow  the  windows,  like  the  eyes 
That,  thus  to  see  their  God  more  clearly,  close. 

58 


XLo  BmilE  Dickinson 

TO  EMILY  DICKINSON 

XIKE  the  fresh  springs  of  fountains, 
Like  new  stars  in  the  skies, 
Like  the  cool  clefts  of  mountains, 
Like  clouds  which  sunset  dyes  — 
So  crystal  fresh,  or  roseate  pure  thy  heart-songs 
rise. 

An  insight  into  Nature, 

A  glance  within  the  shrine, 
Some  evanescent  feature 

Imprisoned  in  each  line ; 
Some   mystery  of  beauty — from  human,  made 
divine. 


OLD  FRIENDS 

FEW  old  friends  are  left  to  me. 

One  is  the  winter  moon  at  night, 
Throwing  black  shadows  of  the  fine- 
branched  tree 
Upon  a  field  of  white. 


a 


One  is  the  yellow  sunset's  gold, 
So  profuse  to  my  childish  eyes  ; 

For  me  those  amber  fields  can  ne'er  grow  old 
My  youth  amid  them  lies. 

59 


Hn  E)eo 

One  is  the  forest's  ferny  deep, 

With  wild,  sweet  odours  in  the  air ; 

Seclusion,  rest,  and  balmy,  wind-rocked  sleep, 
Like  old  friends,  wait  me  there. 

One  is  the  ocean's  disc  of  gray, 
Or  red,  with  sunset-light  aflame. 

With  many  gone — gone  far  and  far  away  — 
These  friends  are  still  the  same. 


B 


IN  DEO 

N  atom  from  the  Father's  hand, 

A  fragment  from  the  Father's  heart, 
Though  dwelling  in  a  distant  land, 
I  know  myself  of  Him  a  part. 


Strong  links,  invisible  but  sure, 
Join  me  to  One  I  cannot  see. 

Sinful  I  am ;  He  calls  me  pure, 

Because  He  gives  His  grace  to  me. 

Then  why  not  trust  ?     Why  be  afraid  ? 

His  love  surrounds  me  like  the  air. 
I  live  in  Him,  for  He  has  made 

My  little  life  His  holy  care. 


60 


flature 


POEMS 

^^HERE  are  possible  poems  everywhere. 
tU     They  shine  in  the  stars,  they  float  in  the 
breeze, 
They  roll  in  the  rhythmic,  empurpled  seas, 
They  fly  on  the  wings  of  the  storm- strung  air. 

They  are  sphered  in  the  dew,  they  drop  in  the 
rain, 
They  hide  in  the  forest,  they  run  in  the  stream, 
They  leap  out  in  fire,  in  icebergs  they  gleam, 

They  hang  on  the  cliffs,  they  lie  in  the  plain. 

They  quiver  in  aspens,  they  grow  in  the  grass, 
They  are  veiled  in  the  violet  and  lost  in  the 

pool. 
In  grottoes  they  glimmer,  secluded  and  cool ; 

In  wild  weedy  waysides  their  images  pass. 

At  nightfall  they  whisper,  at  dawning  they  sing ; 
At  midnight  they  blazon  their  words  on  the 

sky; 
At  noonday  they  speak  in  a  voice  clear  and 
high. 
With  their  sweetness  and  glory  the  world-spaces 
ring. 

63 


Gbe  Dag 

For  manifold  nature  has  manifold  tongues ! 

The  snovvflake  hymns  beauty  as  well  as  the 
star, 

The  cloud  and  the  sun  and  the  crystalline  spar. 
All  nature  is  lyric  with  poems  and  songs  ! 


THE  DAY 

♦|T  WATCHED  the  pageant  of  the  Day  — 

Lived  with  the  Day,  from  dawn's  first  ray ; 
Companion  of  each  instant  new, 
While  high  the  sun  rode  through  the  blue ; 

Sighted  infinities  afar, 
Beyond  th'  outlying  morning  star , 
Caught  morn's  fire-torches'  earliest  glow, 
Heard  wind-filled  silver  trumpets  blow. 

I  saw  light  shadows  melt  and  pass 
Along  the  gold-green  of  the  grass  ; 
Swift,  white  cloud-glories  swim  the  sky, 
Or  group  their  lustres,  zenith-high. 

Magnificent  the  Day's  vast  powers, 
Its  luxury  of  amber  hours  ; 
Till  deep  in  wildest  sky-space  bright, 
Day  left  horizons  filled  with  light. 

Again  infinities  afar 
I  saw,  beyond  the  evening  star ; 
Serene,  adown  the  western  way 
Swept  the  grand  pageant  of  the  Day. 

64 


Zbe  flborntng*(3lorB 

THE  MORNING-GLORY 

y-^jLORY  of  the  morning's  breaking, 
^jj  Rapture  of  the  day's  awaking ! 

Only  flower  that  knows  the  story 
Of  my  childhood's  dawn  auroral ! 
Like  a  dewy  transcript  floral 
Flushed  with  lights  of  rosy  splendour 
Folded  lies  the  record  tender 

In  deep  blooms  of  morning-glory. 

That  first  chapter  of  my  being 
Lies  fast  closed  to  all  my  seeing, 

Like  some  spell-bound,  charmed  palace ! 
But  if  e'er  there  glows  before  me 
At  day-dawn,  a  morning-glory, — 
Flashes  back  in  sudden  vision, 
All  that  early  life  elysian, 

From  the  fragile  flower-chalice. 


O,  what  world  is  this  of  splendour  ? 
Can  a  flower  so  swiftly  render 

To  our  hearts  sweet  childhood's  rapture? 
Rapture,  like  a  rose-mist  glowing, 
Golden,  melting,  heavenward  going, 
Evanescent,  pure,  prophetic  ! 
Thus  shall  we,  one  day  ecstatic, 

All  the  infinite  recapture  ! 

65 


Qux  Kinsmen 


OUR  KINSMEN 


B 


"And  I  am  one  with  all  the  kinsmen  things 
That  e'er  my  Father  fathered." 

— Lanier. 

LIVE  in  this  world  of  beautiful  forms, 
No  form  is  alien  to  men,  or  apart; 

Each  morning  sunbeam  our  being  warms, 
Each  tree  is  a  kinsman  of  friendly  heart. 


We  love  the  clear  bird-songs  that  fill  our  ear 

With  melody  ringing  for  us  alone. 
The  cricket's  chirp  is  for  us ;  and  we  hear 

A  human  voice  in  the  rivulet's  tone. 

They  are  kinsmen — each  century-blazing  star, 
Each  snow-clad  summit,  each  rose-flushed  peak 

Have  most  subtle  oneness  with  us,  for  afar 
Of  things  sublime  and  eternal  they  speak. 

With  all  beautiful  things  that  live,  we  are  one. 

We  are  kin  to  the  circle  of  nature's  whole. 
So,  O  beautiful  trees  that  stand  in  the  sun, 

Your  beauty  entrancing  slips  into  the  soul. 

For  the  children  of  one  great  Kinsman  above 

Are  the  myriad  forms  of  nature,  and  He, 
Kinsman,  Creator,  He  fits  our  love 

To  the  star  and  the  flower,  the  bird  and  the 
tree. 

66 


B 


Clouds 

CLOUDS 

ND  the  clouds  perform  Thy  will, 
Drifting,  oh,  how  sweet  and  still, 
Over  meadow,  vale  and  hill ! 


t 


On  an  unseen  airy  line, 

Floating  towards  some  bourne  divine, 

Moved  by  breezes  soft  and  fine, 

Mist  to  mist  and  cloud  to  cloud 
Still  their  caravanseries  crowd  — 
Till  the  rain  fall,  soft  or  loud ; 

Or  in  far  horizons  low 

Where  the  sunset  glories  grow, 

Stricken  through  with  flame,  they  glow, 

And  like  seraph-hosts  they  stand, 
Rainbow-clothed,  in  golden  band, 
Vespers  chanting  o'er  the  land. 


THE  OLIVES 

HAVE  learned  to  love  the  olives 

With  their  feathery,  gray-green  grace, 

For  they  take  me  back  to  a  garden, 
An  old-world,  beautiful  place. 
67 


Cbe  Olives 

And  the  garden  is  green  with  grasses 

Starred  over  with  lilies  gay. 
And  oft  when  the  day  is  declining 

The  Master  comes  here  to  pray. 

The  olives  here  bid  Him  welcome 
To  their  tender,  traceried  shade ; 

Their  leaves,  softly  murmuring,  soothe  Him, 
Like  music  dreamily  played. 

The  olives  receive  and  enfold  Him 

With  an  almost  human  love. 
While  the  evening  star  lights  the  horizon, 

And  the  crescent  hangs  above. 

Then  while  Syrian  skies  grow  deeper 
And  burn  with  a  thousand  stars, 

He  prays  'neath  the  olives,  till  morning 
Her  purple  portals  unbars. 

For  all  through  the  night  in  the  garden 

He  prays  for  me  and  for  you, 
Till  His  forehead  is  wet  with  moisture 

And  His  locks  with  the  morning  dew. 

So  the  olives  are  filled  with  meaning, 
For  they  link  us  to  Christ  our  Friend. 

They  speak  of  His  deathless  devotion, 
Of  His  love  that  knows  no  end. 
68 


Gbe  Brttet  of  Sprfns 

THE  ARTIST  OF  SPRING 

KER  suit  is  of  green,  and  her  hair's  golden 
sheen 
Is  like  tasselled  corn,  wind-blown; 
You  may  see  where  she's  been  by  each  flowery 

scene, 
By  gay  tint  and  tone  on  each  leaf  and  stone, 
Bright  yellow  and  blue  and  brown. 

She  sings  with  delight  while  she  paints  aright 

The  flowers  in  their  colours  gay : 
"  This,  my  clearest  white,  is  for  daisies  bright 
And  the  lilies'  array,  so  the  faithless  may 

Consider  the  lilies  alway. 

'*  This  delicate  gray,  in  mild  Quaker-like  way, 

Is  for  lichens  in  forests  old; 
For  faint,  misty  spray ;  for  young  buds  in  May. 
And  I'll  paint  like  mould,  all  mottled  with  gold, 

My  moist  mosses  manifold. 

"A  green  that  ne'er  fades,  for  my  deep  ever- 
glades, 
For  clear  pools  in  their  leafy  shrines, 
For  all  close-sheathed  blades.     These  exquisite 

shades 
Through  which  sunbeams  shine,  for  the  tendrilled 
vine; 
And  dark-blue  green  for  the  pine. 
69 


JBrown  an&  Mue 

M  For  all  flame-coloured  things  with  their  fiery 
wings 
This  vermilion  and  crimson  hue ! 
And  silver  for  rings  in  sunlighted  springs, 
And  for  dells  wet  with  dew,  where  streams  run 
through. 
For  the  bending  sky,  my  blue  ! 

"  All  gleams  opaline,  of  swift  splendour  fine 
When  the  valleys  grow  dusky  at  even, 

In  sunsets  shall  shine — a  picture  divine, 

A  pathway  of  light,  pearly  paven, 
An  iris-hued  outpost  of  heaven  !  " 


© 


BROWN  AND  BLUE 

H,  the  brown,  brown  streams  of  March 
Are  the  blue,  blue  streams  of  May, 
And  they  lilt  along  with  a  lighter  laugh 
As  they  carol  on  their  way. 
They  sprinkle  the  bowlders  brown 

With  golden,  shining  spray. 
They  are  artists,  gilding  the  old  gray  world, 
These  sunlighted  streams  of  May. 

And  the  brown,  brown  woods  of  March 
Are  the  green,  green  woods  of  May, 

And  they  lift  their  arms  with  a  freer  swing 
And  shake  out  their  pennons  gay. 
70 


Zbe  ffisberman  anD  tbe  Stream 

And  the  brown,  dead  world  of  March 

Is  the  living  world  of  to-day; 
Life  throbs  and  flushes  and  flashes  out 

In  the  colour  and  fragrance  of  May. 

And  the  heart  I  carried  in  March, 

Under  sullen  clouds  of  gray, 
Is  another  heart  in  its  singing  joy 

Under  blue,  blue  skies  of  May. 
For  sorrow  has  vanished  like  mist 

Which  fresh  winds  blow  away, 
And  love  is  blooming  with  all  bright  things 

In  the  light  and  glory  of  May. 


THE  FISHERMAN  AND  THE  STREAM 

f'VE  lost  my  heart  to  a  maiden, 
So  glad  and  gracious  and  gay. 
My  dreams  by  night  are  love-laden ; 
I  follow  her  all  the  day. 
She  leads  me  through  winding  mazes ; 
She  trips  down  the  green  hillsides ; 
She  cuts  a  path  through  the  daisies ; 
She  comes,  but  she  never  abides. 

She  glides  into  darkest  angles ; 

The  boughs  dip  low  at  her  glance ; 
Then  away  from  their  shadowy  tangles, 

She  speeds  like  a  silvery  lance. 
71 


Cbe  JBluebtrfca 

She  slides  through  the  wheat-fields  yellow ; 

She  hides  'mid  their  stalks  of  gold ; 
Then  bursts  into  sunlight  mellow, 

Or  frolics  in  forests  old. 

Till  almost  I  say,  "  I've  lost  her  ! " 

My  heart  sinks  low  at  the  thought. 
But  I  see  her  !     I  accost  her  ! 

The  lady  I  loved  and  sought ! 
So  she  waits  for  her  willing  lover 

In  a  cool  and  leafy  grove ; 
She  will  give  me  time  'mid  the  clover, 

To  tell  her  my  ardent  love. 

But  now  from  the  dim  seclusion, 

Dew-pearled  its  mosses  and  grass, 
She  is  gone,  the  lovely  illusion, 

The  bewitching,  bewildering  lass  ! 
Just  once — bees  hummed  in  the  clover  — 

She  did  not  say  me  nay ; 
So  I  always  shall  be  the  brook's  lover, 

Till  my  very  latest  day. 


% 


THE  BLUEBIRDS 

ITTLE  fragments  of  the  azure, 
Bits  of  blue  that  soar  and  sing, 

Ye  have  caught  the  very  gladness 
Of  the  sky  upon  your  wing. 
72 


jflBag  in  tbe  TRarttan  Dalles 

Now,  like  living  flowers,  a  moment 
Bloom  ye  on  a  wind-swayed  tree, 

Colour-burnished  like  the  bluebell, 
Or  the  winged  fleur-de-lis. 

Or  like  jewels  iridescent, 

Gleam  ye  in  the  sunlight  free, 
On  the  brown  earth  glinting,  shining, 

Like  pure  lapis-lazuli. 

Then  to  heaven  swift  updarting 

Ye  are  lost  in  ether  bright, 
Glorified  your  glistening  beauty 

In  blue  heavens  of  upper  light. 


MAY  IN  THE  RARITAN  VALLEY 

^||C  AY  in  the  Raritan  Valley  is  May  in  its 
\   E  I    /       fullness  of  beauty  ! 

Generous  and  rich  are  these  meadows, 

these  verdurous  broad-lying  lowlands, 

Deeply  cleft  in  green  halves  by  the  steel-blue 

sword  of  the  river. 
Wide  was  the  ancient  flow  of  the  stream,  like  an 

arm  of  the  ocean  ; 
Now,  as  wide,  spread  green  banks,  the  river's 

illuminate  border, 
Fenc'd  afar  by  the  silvery  mists  of  the  shadowy 
forests, 

73 


fl&aE  in  tbe  IRaritan  Dalles 

And  hillsides  daintly  covered  with  affluent,  redo- 
lent blossoms, 
Apple  and  pear  and  the  delicate  pink  of  the  peach 

tree. 
Slender  elms  are  taking  the  veil,  diaphanous  float- 
ing about  them, 
Not  yet  drawn  close  as  the  Summer's  leaves  will 

enwrap  them ; 
Silent  stand  they,  and  dream  and  muse  of  the 

zephyrs  and  sunlight, 
Single,  apart  in  the  meadows,  the  vestal  virgins 

of  nature. 
Now  the  okalee's  song  trills  sharp,  true  essence 

of  Spring-time, 
And  the  bluebird  leaves  his  notes,  a  trickle  of 

silver  behind  him. 
The  meadow-lark  flutes  to  his  mate,  "  So  sweet, 

so  sweet,  none  are  sweeter  !  " 
Raps  the  woodpecker's  hammer  sonorous,  remote 

in  the  woodland. 
Solemnly  strident    and  slow  croak  the  frogs  in 

monotonous  concert. 
Veiled  in  the  dimness  of  distance  the  towers  and 

spires  of  the  city, 
Swimming  in  amethyst  light,  faintly  image  the 

city  celestial. 
Swings   the   bridge  on   gossamer  threads,  with 

parapets  woven  of  silver 
Over  the  river  onrolling  to  seaward,  rose-flushed 

in  its  rippling. 

74 


XLbe  Sun 

To  live  is  to  tread  upon  flowers,  to  live  is  to 
breathe  naught  but  perfume ; 

Here  is  a  world  of  glorified  green,  gilded  deep 
with  the  sunshine. 

May  is  the  year's  happy  childhood,  and  children 
are  we  in  the  May  time, 

Here  in  this  beautiful  valley  of  light  and  fra- 
grance and  music ! 


THE  SUN 

^^*HE  sun  took  hold  with  his  hands  of  might, 
IL  And  drew  the  forests  up  into  the  light. 

'Twas  his  hand  painted  each  leaf  with  green, 
From  his  palette  prismatic,  and  with  his  fan, 
He  stirred  the  air  till  'twas  driven  and  whirled 
Around  and  around  the  flying  world. 
He  said  to  the  clouds,  "  Come  up  towards  me," 
And  the  vapours  and  mists  crowded  up  from  the 
sea. 

He  drew  the  springs  from  the  clefted  hill, 
And  tuned  the  streams  that  never  are  still. 
He  laid  stone  courses  deep  in  the  earth ; 
From  him  each  tiniest  crystal  had  birth. 
Our  world  is  the  sun's  great  golden  fruit, 
From  him  is  its  flower  and  seed  and  root. 
Oh,  he  is  the  giver,  the  glorious  one, — 
We  live  in  the  life  of  the  life-giving  sun  ! 
75 


Gbe  Sunliflbt 

THE  SUNLIGHT 


H 


LONG  a  stem  of  grass 

I've  seen  the  sunlight  glance, 
Till  gems  went  sliding  up  and  down 

Upon  its  narrow  lance. 


Through  a  swart  bank  of  clouds 
I've  seen  the  sunlight  smite 

Until  it  shone  beyond  the  hill, 
A  dazzling  glory,  white. 

The  yellow  buttercups, 
Where  acres  of  them  toss, 

The  sun  can  varnish  with  a  coat 
More  rich  than  lacquered  gloss. 

O'er  the  wide  fields  of  green, 
For  miles  and  miles  unrolled, 

The  amber  sunset's  slanting  light 
Can  throw  a  cloth  of  gold. 

That  ragged  edge  of  mist, 

Wind-driven,  high  and  higher, 

Burns  in  the  sun,  a  scroll  of  flame, 
Crisped  in  the  glowing  fire. 

O  Sun,  that  o'er  the  world 

Rollest  prismatic  dyes, 
Thou  hast  a  brush  of  gorgeous  hues, 

Artist  of  earth  and  skies  ! 

76 


K> 


Cbe  Sunset  Cloufcs 

THE  SUNSET  CLOUDS 

ALF-SUGGESTED  childish  faces, 

Cloud- wise,  gather  in  the  sky ; 
Fashioned  out  of  gauzy  graces 
And  soft-rolling  cumuli. 


Like  the  backgrounds  crowded  faintly 
With  dim  cherub-heads  divine, 

Round  some  figure  fair  and  saintly  — 
Some  Madonna  most  benign, 

So  these  airy  ones  come  trooping 
Out  of  sky-space,  from  the  clear; 

And  the  light  wind's  subtle  grouping 
Ranks  them  swiftly  tier  on  tier. 

In  pellucid  skies  enfolded, 

Framed  in  blue  of  tenderest  shade, 
White  and  round  and  softly  moulded, 

Cherub  cheek  on  cheek  is  laid. 

In  their  locks  are  shadows  holy, 
On  their  brows  a  flush  of  flame, 

And  their  looks  are  upward  wholly 
To  the  region  whence  they  came. 

Sweet  mist-children  smiling,  staying 

But  a  little  in  our  sight ; 
Heavenly  vagrants,  earthward  straying 

In  the  sunset  fields  of  light. 

77 


Gbe  Gbrusb 


THE  THRUSH 


^gVAR,  high  and  clear  above  the  entrancement 
||  tender 

**J        Of     nature's     summer-deep,     orchestral 

theme, 
Rings   the   thrush-song, — a   crowning  touch  of 
splendour, 
A  soaring  glory,  an  enraptured  dream. 

Far,  far  away  that  melody  ethereal, 

The  trill  of  that  ecstatic,  haunting  note  ! 

Still  grow  the  woods.    Skies  glimmer  more  aerial  j 
The    song    grows    mystic,   more   withdrawn, 
remote. 

Like  sweet,  elusive  things  that  swiftly  winging 
A  flight  unfollowed,  vanish  far  above ; 

These  rapture-notes,  impassioned,  high  and  ring- 
ing, 
Fail,  cease  and  die ;  but  leave  a  trance  of  love. 


THE  WOOD  THRUSH 


2> 


EAD,  did  I  not  respond 

To  notes  that  call  me  far 
From  walls  of  brick  and  stone 
Where  heated  cities  are, — 


XLbc  XUooD  Cbrusb 

I  hear  thee  in  thy  haunts 

'Mid  musing,  mossy  trees, 
In  deep  seclusions  hid, 

Fluting  to  each  soft  breeze. 

Here  fall  pale,  dappled  lights 

On  wildwood  pathways  dim ; 
The  swift  brook  flashes  here 

Where  rises  thy  rare  hymn. 
The  basswood  leaves  hold  out 

Their  heart-shaped  disks  of  green 
To  catch  each  ray  of  gold 

That  sifts,  light  boughs  between. 

For  tangled  roots  and  moss 

Of  bowlders  lichen-grown, 
For  outspread  tapestries 

In  grays  and  ashen  brown, 
For  tender  fronded  ferns, 

Black-stemmed,  that  hide  from  light, 
All  level  beams  of  morn 

That  bar  the  trees  with  white ; — 

For  these  thou  art  a  voice 

Ecstatic  and  remote, 
And  all  mute  woodland  things 

Sing  in  thy  lyric  note. 
The  far,  clear  call  I  heard, 

And  followed  such  sweet  sound, 
Myself  among  the  things 

For  which  a  voice  is  found. 
79 


Gbe  "toermtt  Gbrueb 

THE  HERMIT  THRUSH 

BS  from  a  hidden  organ-loft  upsoaring 
The  rare  song-rapture  rises  through  the 
hush, 
So  from  the  topmost  forest  boughs  outpouring 
Flows  all  the  liquid  silver  of  the  thrush. 

The  wild  woods  throb  and  thrill  with  rich  pulsa- 
tion 
Of  flooding  peace  and  revery  divine, 
Cadenzas  clear  of  lyric  adoration 

Are  linked  with  flute-like  phrasing  faint  and 
fine. 

I  catch  strange  overtones  of  beauty,  filling 
The  vibrant  air  with  passion  pure  and  strong ; 

Or  hear  a  deep,  interior  music,  stilling 
To  golden  trance  the  perfect  even-song. 

The  thrush's  rhapsody — a  swift  revealing 
Of  sudden  glory  when  wild  tumults  cease. 

Nature's  high  worshipper,  his  rapturous  feeling 
Flows  from  idyllic  realms  of  joy  and  peace. 

On  Mount  Agassiz,  Bethlehem,  N.  H. 


80 


3 


Gbe  JButtertlB 

THE  BUTTERFLY 

ALANCE  on  the  timothy, 

Tilt  upon  the  clover, 
Summer  worlds  are  thine  to-day, 

Colour-sprinkled  rover ! 
Yellow  as  the  sunlight, 

Dashed  with  damask  rings 
Are  thy  pretty,  fluttering, 

Iridescent  wings. 


Light  as  air,  and  dainty, 

Is  thy  joyous  flight. 
Blushing  flower  and  blossom 

Quicken  at  the  sight. 
"  He  has  come,  my  lover," 

Cries  the  rose  deep-red. 
"  Welcome,"  calls  the  clover, 

Lifting  up  her  head. 


Deck  the  pallid  lilies 

Like  a  golden  crown ; 
Blow  along  the  breezes 

Like  swift  thistle-down ; 
Drink  thy  fill  of  pleasure, 

Little  soul-like  sprite, 
For  with  dusk  and  sunset 

Comes  to  thee  thy  night ! 
Si 


B  JButterflg  in  tbe  Blps 


A  BUTTERFLY  IN  THE  ALPS 


f 


RAIL  little  butterfly, 

'Mid  these  mighty  mountains, 
Fluttering  'twixt  summits  high, 

Sipping  at  the  fountains, 
Fearless  as  fragile,  thou, 

Heedless  of  all  danger, 
Floating  where  blue  flax-flowers  bow, 

Exquisite,  rare  ranger ! 

Sunlit  meadows,  soft  and  low 

Hold  thee,  gently  hovering. 
Far  above  may  tempests  blow — 

Lowliness  thy  covering ! 
So  thy  little  day  is  spent, 

Vastness  all  around  thee, 
Happy  in  thy  sweet  content, 

Till  the  night  has  found  thee ! 


SUMMER  NOON 

©VER  the  land  lies  the  heat  of  noon. 
The  mountains  are  dim  in  a  motionless 
glare. 
Over  the  meadows,  green  with  June, 
Shimmering  and  quivering  rises  the  air. 
82 


among  tbe  luabite  flbountatns 

White-rimmed  clouds  curve  out  of  sky-space 
And  skirt  along  the  horizon's  bound ; 

In  mist-falls  and  folds  of  airy  grace 

They  form  and  vanish  without  a  sound. 

How  still  the  forest  stands  in  the  sun, 
Smitten  by  glittering  spears  of  light, 

Tranced  by  the  powerful  heats  of  noon, 
Hushed  into  silence  by  splendour  bright ! 


AMONG  THE  WHITE  MOUNTAINS 


K 


ERE  is  no  fevered  fret ! 

This  mountain  meadow-slope 
Round  which  the  eternal  hills  are  set 
Breathes  only  calm  and  hope. 


Rude  city  tumults  cease. 

These  spaces  are  divine, 
Where  soundless  silence  rolls  her  peace 

To  far  horizon  line. 

The  fettered  soul  escapes. 

The  birds  are  not  more  free, 
Or  clouds  that  curl  about  these  steeps, 

Or  mists  blown  from  the  sea. 

As  long  as  sunlight  sheds 
On  tree  and  flower  and  crest 

Its  dreamy  blues  and  greens  and  reds, 
Here  shall  my  spirit  rest. 

83 


»b  tbe  Sea 

BY  THE  SEA 

©DAYS  of  quietness  and  deep  content, 
That  steal  as  gently  and  serenely  by 
As    your  own   sunshine   that  at  noon 
doth  lie 
In  plentitude  of  golden  ravishment 
O'er  every  little  spot  that  late  was  lent 
To  morning's  shadows  ;  fairer  livery 
Lover  ne'er  wore  in  fondest  lady's  eye 
Than  that  which  o'er  the  earth  your  sunshine  sent. 

Is  each  day's  beauty  but  a  transient  bliss, 

A  moment  felt,  then  like  a  sweet  note  gone  ? 

Rather  'tis  like  a  wave  that  flooding  pours 
O'er  all  the  heart  a  tide  of  happiness 

And  ebbing  leaves  along  our  being's  shores 
Strange  tokens  from  immensities  unknown. 


A  WIND-SWEPT  MEADOW 


f 


AST  followed  wave  on  wave 
Across  the  meadow-sea  — 
A  disc  of  dark,  a  disc  of  light, 
Swift  running,  fair  and  free. 


Now  stills  the  wind,  and  far 
Breathes  with  a  softened  sound. 

An  even  hue  falls  on  the  field 
Grown  level  as  the  ground. 

84 


3be  Cricket 

But  swift  the  breeze  returns, 

And  the  green  billows  break 
In  undulations  curved  as  smooth 

As  wavelets  on  the  lake. 

In  arcs  of  beauty  bright, 

Acres  of  stemmy  grass 
Obedient  bow  across  the  plain 

To  all  the  airs  that  pass. 

Now  the  high  gale  springs  up, 

Sweeps  o'er  the  curves  gray-white, 

And  spume-like  crests  edge  every  wave, 
A  mimic  ocean  bright. 


Z 


THE  CRICKET 

HE  cricket's  meagre  monody 
Is  rich  enough  for  me ; 

I  never  hear  an  orchestra 
Of  so  full  symphony. 


I  hear  in  his  reiterant  note 
A  thousand  different  bars  ; 

All  sweetnesses  of  childish  thought 
Dew-fall,  the  hush,  the  stars, 

85 


DaBtnfi  in  ©ID  Ibaoles  Street 

The  autumn  haze,  the  lone  wood-ways ; 

My  earliest  love — my  last  — 
He  sings  of  these  until  I'm  sure 

The  cricket  knows  my  past. 

The  cricket  sings — my  vanished  things 
Come  back — a  tone,  a  touch ! 

He  knows  them ;  but  my  heart  forbids 
That  he  recall  too  much ! 


HAYING  IN  OLD  HADLEY  STREET 

HN  ample  meadow  is  Old  Hadley  Street ! 
In  lengthened,  fourfold  glory  multiplied, 
Run  lofty  lines  of  elms  on  either  side. 
Midsummer  suns  here  shine  with  soothing  heat, 
Distilling  grassy  blades  to  fragrance  sweet, 
Where  fresh-cut  winrows  fall  through  spaces 

wide. 
Here  deep,  perpetual  peace  and  rest  abide, 
And  ancient  calm  and  noiseless  quiet  meet. 

How  century-old  these  elms  !    Their  lifted  domes 
Cathedrals  cool,  with  clustered  columns  vast ! 

How  dim  the  light  that  through  leaf-casements 
comes ! 
What  roomy  silences  !     What  shadows  cast 

On  new-mown  hay,  and  rose-embowered  homes 
Serene  in  age-long  brooding  o'er  the  past ! 


86 


autumn 


AUTUMN 


B 


PINE   against  the  sky, 

A  white  cloud  o'er  the  pine, 

A  shadow  on  the  hillside  high ; 
Silence  and  peace  benign. 


The  cricket's  hum  goes  on. 

He  sings  "  Repose,  repose, 
The  summer's  heat  is  done, 

Rest  at  the  summer's  close." 

A  nameless  change  is  near ; 

Some  subtle  charm  has  passed. 
Though  still  the  sun  shines  clear, 

Fair  summer  cannot  last. 

So  in  our  lives,  repose 

Answers  the  cricket's  sound, 
And  with  the  summer's  close, 

We  pass  an  unseen  bound. 


B 


AN  OCTOBER  DAY 

BOVE,  serenities  of  blue, 

Cloud-purities  of  white ; 
Below,  the  maple's  crimson  hue, 
The  elm  tree's  torch  of  light. 

87 


Gbe  Scabeacb  in  autumn 

Above,  a  deep,  unfathomed  space, 
Far,  brilliant  tracts  of  air ; 

Below,  the  hillside's  dreamy  grace, 
And  glory  everywhere. 

Above,  a  stillness,  soundless,  dumb, 
The  trance  of  Autumn  days  ; 

Below,  the  murmurous  cricket's  hum, 
And  halos  of  dim  haze. 

Above,  sabbatic  skies  and  peace, 

Ineffable  and  blest ; 
Below,  the  gorgeous  draperies 

That  robe  the  year  at  rest. 


THE  SEABEACH  IN  AUTUMN 

♦gS^EYOND  long  lines  of  seaward  dunes 
j     Beats  martial  music  of  the  seas ; 
Like  Titan  blows  of  rhythmic  ease, 
Or  onset  of  old  mailed  dragoons. 

All  lesser  sounds  the  surf-drums  drown ; 
But  on  the  wild  main's  hither  side 
Lie  meadows  green  and  marshes  wide, 

Deep  inlets  blue  and  cornfields  brown. 

Light  breezes  turn  the  windmill's  wheel 
In  mystic  motion  'gainst  the  sky. 
Gold  ricks  of  salt  sea-grass  rise  high, 

And  lengthening  still  faint  shadows  steal. 
88 


Long  slants  the  light  of  Autumn's  sun ; 

In  choiring  chant  the  crickets  sing ; 

Snow-white  the  sail  as  plumed  dove's  wing ; 
And  peace  falls  wide,  for  day  is  done. 

Lands,  seas,  float  in  empurpled  light, 
The  level  corn  is  topped  with  gold, 
Green  gilding  over"  earth  is  rolled 

As  down  she  drifts  to  beauteous  night. 

Quogue,  L.  /, 


/K> 


MIST-VEILS 

YSTICAL  sails  from  the  fog  outloom, 
Spectral  spars  lift  into  the  light, 

Canvas  is  spread  on  a  phantom  boom, 
Ships  evanesce  and  perish  from  sight. 


Prows  are  invisible,  ghostly  things, 

But  breezy  topsails  shimmer  and  shine, 

Or  fold  in  shadow  their  snow-white  wings, 
Shrunk  to  a  black  and  slanting  line. 

Stately  and  tall,  the  three-masted  bark, 
Destined  to  odorous,  tropical  seas, 

Buries  her  bowsprit  in  vapours  dark, 

While  her  sails  dream  on  in  white  reveries. 
89 


Cbe  5ca*(5ull 

The  fog-veil,  reefing  its  filmy  fold, 

Shows  barges  black  as  the  barren  night, 

And  skeleton  gunwales,  tipped  with  gold, 
On  pearl-blue  reaches  of  sapphire  light. 

And  mighty  streamers  of  mist  roll  in 

From  leagues  of  cloud-bank  piled  up  in  space, 

Dissolving  mountains  and  islands  green 
In  a  witchcraft  of  melting,  vanishing  grace. 

Then  vapours  that  veil  and  mists  that  drift 
Begin  to  wreathe  and  to  rise  from  the  sails ; 

Into  the  sunshine  they  stream  and  lift, 
And  again  there  is  light  that  never  fails  ! 

South-East  Harbor^  Mt.  Desert, 


XL 


THE  SEA-GULL 

HROUGH  opal  skies,  the  sea-gull  flies 
On  strong  sea-pinions  borne  ; 

A  winged  star,  he  sights  afar 
The  pathways  of  the  morn. 


Serene  his  flight ;  no  fears  affright 
His  buoyant,  storm-proof  breast. 

He  saileth  white,  a  gleam  of  light 
Against  the  crimson  West. 
90 


Sunset  3from  Sborc 

No  winds  can  swerve  the  silver  curve 
That  arcs  the  heavens  for  miles, 

When  seaward  bound,  his  home  is  found 
On  far,  lone,  mist-veiled  isles. 

Aft.  Desert. 


SUNSET  FROM  SHORE 


m 


HITE  sails  turned  pink,  and  prows 
grew  gold, 
And  spars  were  made  of  light, 
On  seas  whose  molten  sapphire  rolled 
Far  out  to  meet  the  night. 


The  mountains  caught  on  crested  crown 

Pale  amethyst  and  blue ; 
And  deep  in  hollows  gray  and  brown 

The  mist-veiled  shadows  grew. 

Through  long  ravines  the  scarlet  fire 

Burnt  like  a  ruby  red. 
And  flamed  on  crimson  wings  still  higher 

The  cloud-host  overhead. 

Far  to  the  East,  faint  green  in  bars 

Edged  the  sea's  mystery  ; 
And  in  the  amber  sky  the  stars 

Awaked  to  ecstasy ! 

Mt.  Desert. 

91 


Hittinoue 

ANTINOUS 

Star  and  Flower 

"  The  soothsayers  declared  that  the  Emperor  Hadrian  must 
die,  unless  some  friend  loved  him  well  enough  to  die  willingly 
in  his  stead.  Antinoiis,  his  beauteous  boy-friend,  leapt  into  the 
Nile  and  gave  his  life  for  the  Emperor's.  Next  day  was  found 
in  the  Nile  a  species  of  lotus  never  seen  before,  having  a  blood- 
red  heart;  and  a  new  star  was  seen  in  the  sky." 

CONSUMMATE   flower  of  perfect  human 
grace, 
Thou    too  must  close   thy  starry  eyes  in 
night ! 
But,  lo,  sublimed  to  azure  deeps  of  space, 
Thy  beauty  burns,  a  deathless  star  of  light ! 

Forever  drooped  thy  beauty's  flower-like  head, 
As     some    white     lotus    bends    beneath    its 
bloom; 
But,  lo,  thy  life-blood  dyes  the  lotus  red, 

Still    throbs    thy    heart    in    its    impassioned 
gloom ! 

No  lovely  thing  of  earth  is  lost  or  dies  ; 

It  leaps  to  other  spheres  of  life  and  power. 
Beauty  turns  not  to  nothingness,  but  flies 

To  more  ethereal  homes  in  star  or  flower. 


92 


THUtnO  dfcustc 

WIND  MUSIC 

♦IfWRAR  ye  the  rustling  of  their  garments' 
IIJ         glory- 

The  wood-gods  sweeping  by  in  ranks 
divine  ? 
How  weird    the    rhythm    of    sounding   forests 
hoary 
Touched  into  music  by  wind-plectrums  fine ! 


From  clefted  mountains  and  from  pine-crowned 
ranges 
Air-fountains  fling  fresh  coolness  on  the  breeze, 
Leading    leaf    orchestras    through    murmurous 
changes 
Of  reeds   and  strings  that  strike  wild  harmo- 
nies. 

Pure  is  the  breeze  as  crystal  torrent  dashing ; 

The  rippling  foliage  runs  in  waves  of  light ; 
And  sways  the  green  cloak  of  the  birches  flash- 
ing 

Amid  the  green  their  alabaster  white. 

How  from  far  terraces  and  uplands  soaring 
The  winds  plunge  headlong  in  their  airy  flight, 

And  race  across  the  fragrant  plains,  outpouring 
Their  vials  full  of  odour  and  delight ! 
93 


In  tbe  jforest 

IN  THE  FOREST 


£> 


EEP  shadows  in  emboughed  trees 
Are  homes  wherein  to  stay  ; 

Green  forest-vistas  build  with  ease 
The  spirit's  glad  highway. 


The  aspen  leaf's  fine  tremolo 

Can  never  quite  be  still, 
But  oscillates,  now  swift,  now  slow, 

On  light -hung  pedicel. 

All  forest-stems,  or  dark  or  gay, 
Or  straight  or  bent,  I  love ; 

But  most  the  aspen's  bole  of  gray, 
In  hue  soft  as  a  dove ; 

And  birches  that,  'mid  dappled  green, 
Stand  like  the  columns  light 

Of  marble  temples,  in  the  sheen 
Of  alabaster  white. 

At  noon  a  woodsy  fragrance  lifts, 

Distilled  by  midday  heat, 
And  redolent  it  dreams  and  drifts, 

Till  all  the  air  is  sweet. 

The  feathery,  curling  ferns  possess 
Damp  hollows  of  the  woods, 

Their  fronded  tribes  the  forest  bless  — 
Emerald  beatitudes. 
94 


Gbe  Surf 


At  nightfall  swells  a  wild,  weird  note, 
Tone-music  of  the  breeze, 

Blown  from  a  mountain  gorge  remote, 
To  play  upon  the  trees. 

Watervillet  N.  H. 


THE  SURF 

^^►AN-FORMED,  the  surf  comes  creaming 

|  J  up  the  beach 

*V        And  melts  into  the  hard-packed  shining 

shores ; 
Deep  scalloped,  far  along  the  silver  reach, 

The  white  curves  vanish  through  the  sandy 
pores. 

The  tranquil  mass  of  ocean  lies  as  blue 
As  sapphire,  or  as  turquoise,  nearer  seen ; 

Till  all  along  the  fringing  white,  its  hue 
Blends  into  crystal-clear,  translucent  green. 

So  still  the  massive  waters  lie  in  rest, 

So  level  is  the  liquid,  azure  plain, 
No   heart,   you   feel,  beats  'neath   this   mighty 
breast, 

Till  throbs  with  pulsing  power  the  surf  again. 

95 


/fountain  Xanfcecape 

World-rhythms  are  thrilling  in  the  surf's  fixed  fall, 
And  prove  (beneath  the  placid  outrolled  sea) 

Earth's  steady  pulse,  the  central  power  of  all, 
The  world's  great  heart  that  beats  unceasingly. 

Weslha,7npton  Beach,  L.  1. 


MOUNTAIN  LANDSCAPE 


/ie> 


ONOTONES  of  glory 

Where  mountain  masses  lie ; 

Mysteries  of  shadows, 
Serenities  of  sky. 
Altitudes  all  hoary, 

Amplitudes  of  air, 
Amethystine  splendours 

Spreading  everywhere. 
Limpidities  of  shallows 

Where  crystal  waters  run ; 
Ministries  of  meadows 

Outlying  in  the  sun. 
Monarchies  of  forests, 

Democracies  of  grass; 
Ermined  aristocracies 

Of  high-born  clouds  that  pass. 
Solemnities  of  twilight 

Slowly  drawing  on  ; 
Solitudes  of  midnight 

Shrouding  every  cone ; 

96 


Gbe  "fciab  tnlls 


Hush  and  stars  supernal, 
O'er  peaks  dusk  and  lone, 

Standing,  still  eternal, 
Though  the  sun  is  gone. 


THE  HIGH  HILLS 

BRE  there  then  such  hushed,  cool  places, 
Far  above  the  city's  clamour, 
'Mid  the  woodland's  leafy  graces, 
Full  of  shadowy,  sylvan  glamour  ? 

From  high  cliff  and  headland  hoary, 

From  pure  heights  far  heavenward  going, 

Pour  forth  streams  of  life  and  glory, 
From  air-fountains  ever-flowing. 

From  green  trees  whose  poised  leaves  quiver, 
From  deep  fern-glades,  life  concealing, 

From  cascade-flash,  and  from  river, 
Pure  airs  rise  for  the  world's  healing. 

Torrents  turbid  in  their  dashing, 
Fragile  flowers,  fragrance  giving, 

Thunder-clouds  in  sudden  clashing  — 
All  set  free  elixir  living. 

As  from  ocean,  full  of  vigour, 
Rise  new  airs  without  a  measure, 

Ever  from  the  mountains'  rigour 

Sweeps  this  priceless,  precious  treasure. 
97 


Un  tbe  1bigb  fountains— XL  be  ©Igmpians 

And  to  men  whom  hot  suns  madden, 
From  the  heart  of  this  high  fastness 

Blow  wild  winds,  and  airs  that  gladden, 
In  fresh  plenitude  and  vastness. 


IN  THE  HIGH  MOUNTAINS— THE 
OLYMPIANS 

>^^OD-LIKE  the  fair  Olympians  lie  asleep, 
^  \j      On  far  horizons  laid  apart  at  rest, 

Their  beauteous  forms  the  draping  cloud- 
wreaths  sweep, 
Tinged  by  prismatic  fires  flung  from  the  west. 

Repose  how  mystic,  how  serene  and  grand ! 

No  cares  of  men  disturb  the  eternal  dream ! 
By  fragrant  winds  their  brows  of  snow  are  fanned. 

Crowns  rest  upon  their  heads,  and  jewels  gleam. 

Their  ageless,  tireless  rest  goes  on  and  on ! 

No  waking  stirs  the  stately  ancient  sleep  ! 
With  dawning,  noon  and  evening-twilight  gone, 

The  stars  at  midnight  vigils  o'er  them  keep. 

They  bask  in  sunshine  of  the  upper  air. 

Storms  find  some  other  track  and  turn  aside. 
The  purple  hills  that  nearer  lie,  float  fair, 

A  mirage-land  where  peace  and  rest  abide. 

The  Riff  el- Alp,  Switzerland,  1898. 

98 


JBroofes  and  ttells  in  tbe  Hips 

BROOKS  AND  BELLS  IN  THE  ALPS 

^^HE  brooks  and  bells 
£1^     Weave  alpine  spells, 

Ring  sweetest  symphonies. 

Orchestras  rare, 

Play  thro'  blue  air 
In  high-hung  galleries. 

The  brooks,  how  bright, 

Flung  from  the  height 
Of  rocky  peak  and  dome ! 

Down  leaping  free 

In  mountain-glee 
From  pure  snow  crests  they  come. 
In  silver  lines  their  beauty  shines 

And  swift  cascades  of  foam ; 
Leaping  thro'  vales  to  deepest  dales 

They  seek  their  ocean  home. 
Forever  ring  the  songs  they  sing, 
Their  low,  rich  carolling. 

The  bells'  sweet  chime 
Rings  on  in  time, 

Like  faintest  joy-tones  clear. 
Far  up  they  climb  with  answering  rhyme 

The  alpine  gorges  drear. 
The  cool  airs  blow,  their  soft  tones  flow 

And  fill  the  world  with  cheer. 
99 


B  September  afternoon 

The  bells  and  brooks,  the  brooks  and  bells ! 

From  alpine  heights  and  alpine  dells, 

I  hear  their  magic  falls  and  swells. 
The   brooks    flow  ceaseless    o'er    their  beds    of 

stone, 
And  blend  their  music  with  the  bells'  faint  over- 
tone. 

The  brooks  and  bells,  the  bells  and  brooks ! 
In  hidden,  mossy,  ice-cold  nooks 
Where  eye  of  elf  or  man  ne'er  looks 
They  weave  the  witchcraft  of  the  endless  tunes, 
The  mystic  music  of  the  Alps,  the  old-world 
runes. 

Zermatt,  i8g8. 


A  SEPTEMBER  AFTERNOON 


l 


D  have  the  light  fall  so 

Thro'  all  the  year  ! 
The  breezes  blow  as  soft  and  low, 

The  dawn  as  crisp  and  clear. 


The  grassy,  seeded  heads 

So  tall  and  slight 
Stand  out  against  the  sunset  red 

As  exquisitely  light, 
ioo 


Bn  Bmber*a3ure  Bag 

The  shadows  fall  as  fair 

On  beeches  gray ; 
The  leaves  shake  sifted  sunlight  rare 

Across  the  sylvan  way. 

I'd  have  such  streamlets  cool 

Forever  play ; 
The  waves  of  such  a  limpid  pool 

Forever  rippling  stay. 

The  clouds  float  white  as  mist 

Athwart  the  hill; 
And  shadows,  dim  with  amethyst, 

The  heights  and  hollows  fill. 

And  down  the  mountain-side 

The  cascades  leap, 
And  peace  and  joy  on  all  abide 

In  the  year's  sacred  sleep. 

In  the  Beech-woods  ct  Chamounix. 


AN  AMBER-AZURE  DAY 

HNGELS  of  the  ether  stand, 
Azure  chalices  in  hand, 
Pouring  hyacinthine  streams 
Through  the  drifted  amber  gleams. 

Isles  of  lapis-lazuli 
Rest  upon  a  jasper  sea. 

IOI 


U?ellow  jflowers 

Shores  of  topaz  rimmed  with  gold 
Under  sapphire  skies  unfold. 

Sparry  spire  and  mountain  crest 
Rise  deep-girt  with  amethyst. 
Opal  coasts  emboss  the  bay 
Where  cerulean  waters  play. 

Liquid  violet  floods  the  hills ; 
Purpling  mist  the  valley  fills. 
Indigo  in  gulfs  and  belts 
Into  faintest  sky-tint  melts. 

Beryl  bars  across  the  sea 
Lie  o'er  leagues  of  mystery. 
Ocean,  earth  and  air  have  grown 
One  ecstatic  turquoise  tone. 

In  the  flowing  glory's  surge 
Sea  and  sky  transfigured  merge. 
Bathed  in  chrysoprase  and  blue, 
Lo,  the  heavens  and  earth  are  new ! 

Mt.  Desert,  September,  1896. 


YELLOW  FLOWERS 

^^*HE  yellow  flowers  are  children  of  the  sun, 
\A^  Shedding  a  little  world  of  splendour  on 

the  grass, 
Nor  will  they  let  the  golden  light  entirely  pass 
When  day  is  done. 
102 


GolDenrod 

Chrysanthemums  and  asters,  sunflowers  bold, 
Nasturtiums,    goldenrods      and     marigolds,    are 

flecks 
Of  the  sun's  glory — fragments  fallen  on  the  earth 

he  decks 

With  petalled  gold. 

Therefore  I  love  these  flowers  so  golden  bright, 
These  little  discs  and  plumes  of  sunshine  in  the 

land, 
Gathering  their  splendour  from  the  sun,  where'er 

they  stand, 

Shreds  of  his  light. 


© 


GOLDENROD 

H,  the  pure  gold  of  it,  yellow  and  shining  ! 

Oh,  the  mere  mass  of  it,  filling  the  eye  ! 
Here  is  no  room  for  the  miser's  repining, 

Here  where  the  nuggets  so  plentiful  lie. 


Now  at  the  noontide  of  glory  and  summer, 
Nature  has  thrown  all  her  largesse  abroad, 

Affluent  wealth  for  each  Croesus-like  comer, 
Acres  and  miles  of  the  bright  goldenrod  ! 


103 


Gbe  procession  ot  tbe  Uear 

THE  PROCESSION  OF  THE  YEAR 

♦fl"  AM  sweeping  along  in  the  proud  procession 
I         Winding  with  pomp  through  the  flaming 
ways ; 

I  am  part  of  the  pageant  of  summer's  recession, 
In  the  stately  march  of  the  Autumn  days. 

With  pennons  of  colour  and  banners  outstream- 
ing, 
October  is  flooding  the  forests  and  hills ; 
Like  light  through  Cathedral-glass  steadily  beam- 
ing, 
Its  glory  and  grandeur  earth's  temple  fills. 

The  winds  through  the  pines  with  deep  voices 
moaning 
Are  an  organ's  sub-tones  under  melodies  sweet. 
The    far  heavens    are  opened — their  full  choirs 
intoning, 
Alternate  with  earth,  antiphonies  meet. 

Onward  the  days  sweep, — detachments  of  glory ; 

Glory  at  dawning,  more  glory  at  night ! 
Under  zeniths  of  splendour  and  frost-standard 
hoary, 
The  grand  army  of  flame  streams  in  cohorts  of 
light. 

104 


Sutumn  Dase 

AUTUMN  HAZE 

♦flfT  is  incense-day  in  the  earth  and  sky ! 
|£    The  censer  swings  through  the  temple  high, 
And  the  pungent  fumes  of  myrrh  are  blown 
Through  forest  alleys  wild  and  lone. 
The  volumes  of  golden  mist  unrolled 
Wrap  tree  and  hill  in  their  purple  fold, 
Transfiguring  mountain,  meadow  and  stream, 
In  the  violet  light  of  an  amethyst  dream. 
In  the  vale  of  the  river  the  mists  fall  low, 
And  the  woodland  torches  are  burning  slow. 
The  woods  are  the  altar  aflame  with  light, 
Burning  in  crimson  and  amber  bright ; 
And  the  priest  intones  in  accents  clear 
The  vesper-service  of  the  year. 
The  holy  temple  reechoes  again 
The  chanted  praise  and  the  loud  Amen ! 


% 


AUTUMN  STORMS 

IKE  lost  birds,  fly  the  leaves 
Dazed,  wandering,  tossed  from  forest 
trees 

Out  to  great  space  ;  their  wild  flight  weaves 
A  death-dance  ere  they  die ! 


105 


TKfltnter  Shies 

Faint  scents  as  of  damp  woods 
The  wind-storm  scatters  free ;  and  clouds 
Gray  lowering  move,  or  else  their  broods 
In  sullen  silence  lie  ! 

Swift  drives  the  wind,  and  brings 
More  of  the  wild,  affrighted  things  ! 
Far  up  and  down  on  homeless  wings 
They  float  and  fill  the  sky. 

Why  does  their  flight  impart 
Like  wildness  to  my  storm-strung  heart  ? 
When  blows  the  wind  to  bid  me  start, 
Afar,  like  them,  to  fly? 


XL 


WINTER  SKIES 

HERE'S  something  in  the  light 

Of  Winter  morning  skies, 
That  strikes  you  like  a  sudden  glimpse 

Of  pure  eternities. 


An  amber  brightness  flings 

A  rose-mist  on  the  hill ; 
And  breezes  sweep,  like  rushing  wings 

Of  those  that  do  God's  will. 

The  knotted  branches  black 
Like  fretted  lace-work  lie 

Devices  distant,  rich  and  strange, 
On  belts  of  saffron  sky. 
1 06 


Cbe  Bpple*GUoo&  ffire 

Horizons  glad,  serene, 

Far,  happy  shores  of  light 
Stretch  East  and  West  and  North  and  South, 

Coasts  of  the  Infinite  ! 


THE  APPLE-WOOD  FIRE 

fN  a  deep  and  a  wide  old  chimney-place, 
The  flame-flowers  bloomed  long  ago ! 
And  they  spread  their  grand  petals  with 
gauzy  grace 
As  spirit-flowers  might  grow. 
And  they  turned,  as  they  burned  in  the  fire's 
embrace 
From  pink  to  a  crimson  glow. 

They  sprang  out  of  branches  and  trunks  of  trees 

That  once  in  old  orchards  grew. 
And  red  as  the  blossoms  where  once  hummed 
the  bees 
Were  these  flowers  of  exquisite  hue. 
Ah,  so  red,  that  we  said,  though  other  blooms 
fled, 
Here  are  fire- flowers  ever  new  ! 

So  we  heaped  the  gnarled  knots  of  apple-wood 
high 
And  the  flames  wrapped  them  closely  round 
In  scarlet  and  ruby — like  apples  that  lie 
107 


Sunrise  in  "November 

In  Autumn-time  piled  on  the  ground, 
When  the  whir  and  the  stir  of  the  crickets  near 
by 
Seems  a  lonely,  a  lovely  sound. 

And  my  dear  Love  and  I  together  still  see, 
When  twilight  draws  on  its  sweet  hours, 

The  filmy  folds  float  from  the  flame-bearing  tree 
And  vanish  in  airy  bowers. 

If  we  will,  there  is  still,  wherever  we  be 
The  old  chimney-place  and  its  flowers  ! 


B 


SUNRISE  IN  NOVEMBER 

N  amber,  concave  heaven 

Turned  crimson  where  it  lies 
Along  the  black  horizon  line 
Of  mountain  curves  and  skies. 
A  firmament  aquiver, 

With  edge  of  rose-red  dyes  ; 
And  where  the  glory  deepens 
A  flaming  sun  will  rise. 


1 08 


Experience  of  (Sbristian 
Xife 


THE  MORNING  WATCH 


/lib 


Y  word  with  God,  His  word  with  me 
Before  the  face  of  man  I  see, 
Turns  heavenly  light  upon  my  way ; 
By  faith  I  walk  through  all  my  day. 


The  precious  moment  brightly  glows, 
And  does  my  Saviour's  love  disclose; 
Girt  with  His  power,  my  race  I  run, 
Till  Him  I  seek  at  set  of  sun ! 


A  MORNING  THOUGHT 

^^AVIOUR  of  Men,  I  heard  Thee  softly  caU- 

JJJ         ing, 

While   yet   the   silver   dew  was   beaded 
bright, 
Gentle  as  dawn,  a  spirit-voice  was  falling 
Upon  my  spirit,  with  the  morning  light. 

"  My  child,"   it   said,  "  art    thou,  at   this   sweet 
waking, 
Thinking,  *  How  can   I   serve   my  Heavenly 
King? 
How  can  I,  like  the  light  around  me  breaking, 
To  little  ones  of  His,  good  comfort  bring  ? ' 
in 


"  Thy  thought  is  blessed ;  and  for  its  fulfilling, 
I  first  will  warm  thy  heart  with  Love's  strong 
tide. 

My  own  great  love  for  thee  afresh  instilling, 
Assuring  thee,  '  For  love  of  thee  I  died  ! '  " 


Z 


HOW  FAR? 

HE  East  is  from  the  West,  how  far? 

Sundered  in  space,  are  no  bounds  met  ? 
Or  ends  the  East  at  some  bright  star, 

And  to  the  West  are  sure  metes  set  ? 


See !     Two  strong  fire-winged  angels  leave 
The  throne  of  God,  from  left  and  right ; 

East,  West,  their  tireless  pinions  cleave 
A  flaming  path  in  endless  flight. 

They  glow  and  speed  when  myriad  years 
Of  earth-accounted  time  have  flown ; 

They  whirl  by  systems,  suns,  and  spheres, 
And  worlds  to  ashen  grayness  grown. 

Each  spans  the  fringe  of  golden  spray 
Washing  creation's  outmost  shore. 

Beyond,  they  light  the  blue-black  way, 
Flashing  and  flying  evermore. 
112 


prater 


Yet  part  they  still !     Their  wings  of  might 
Gleam  farther,  farther,  swiftly  fleet. 

An  outbound  course — how  infinite ! 
For  each  no  limit  and  no  mete. 

Far,  far  apart !     Soul,  hast  thou  proved, 
With  joy  that  sets  all  fear  at  rest, 

God  hath  from  thee  thy  sin  removed 
"  Far  as  the  East  is  from  the  West "  ? 


P 


PRAYER 

RA YER  is  the  skylark  of  the  soul ; 

Far  borne  on  pinions  of  desire 
She  cleaves  the  air  to  one  clear  goal, 

Straight  upward  flashing,  ever  higher. 


She  sings  and  praises  as  she  sings, 
Speeds  up  to  God  with  raptured  cry; 

Or  sink  her  baffled,  storm-spent  wings, 
As  fierce  winds  beat  along  the  sky. 

Yet  glad  is  she  in  sunshine's  gold, 
And  pierces  deeper  heavens  in  flight. 

Man's  spirit-wings  he  may  not  fold, 
But  spread  them,  flying  to  God's  light ! 
113 


SunDag  in  tbe  fountains 

SUNDAY  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 

^^^HIS  is  a  day  to  worship  God ! 
^^  How  springs  with  higher,  airier  arch  the 

sky ! 
And,  dappling  all  the  emerald  uplands,  lie 
Long  velvet  patches  of  swift  shine  and  shade. 
The  listening  trees,   the  light-filled  clouds,  the 

streams, 
The    wild    flowers,   silver-streaked   with    dewy 

gleams, — 
All  these  are  His,  and  this  the  day  He  made ! 

This  is  a  day  to  worship  God ! 

Heaven's    arch    that   springs  with  nobler  vault 

above, — 
What  can  it  symbol  but  His  boundless  love, 
All  pure  and  palpitating,  vast  and  tender  ? 
The  shifted  shadows  flung  on  circling  hills, 
Trees,  flowers,  the  glistening  grass,  the  glancing  rills 
Are  but  the  trailing  of  His  garments'  splendour ! 

This  is  a  day  to  worship  God  ! 

From  far  air-fountains  flows  the  mountain-breeze; 

And  tinkling,  rainless,  in  the  aspens'  leaves 

Sound  ever  on  the  soft,  perpetual  showers. 

High  over  all,  the  glory  of  the  sun 

Gilds  the  wide  world,  until  his  course  is  done. 

O  worship  God  this  day  which  He  makes  ours ! 

In  the  White  Mountains,  N.  H. 
114 


"  Gbe  Bngelus" 

«  THE  ANGELUS  " 
Millet's  Painting 

^^  AR,  far  away, 

1 1  The  bells  peal,  "  Pray, 

%U  Pray  at  the  dying  of  the  day  ! " 

O'er  levels  dim 

The  sweet  sounds  swim, 
The  cadence  of  a  seraph's  hymn. 

Vibrant  and  low, 

More  tenuous,  slow, 
Down  the  horizon's  verge  they  go. 

Heavy  with  care, 

In  furrows  bare, 
Two  toilers  hear,  and  bow  in  prayer. 

The  bells  sing,  "  Cease ; 

Rest  and  release 
Come  with  the  nightfall's  blessed  peace ! " 

The  music  rare 

Throbs  through  the  air, 
Suffusing  it  with  faith  and  prayer. 

As  angels  sing, 

The  blest  bells  ring  — 
And,  lo  !  the  toilers  see  the  King. 

They  hear  Him  say  : 

"  Come,  rest  and  pray ; 
I,  too,  was  weary  in  the  way." 
115 


Cbc  Bnoel  of  tbe  5prtns*Gtme 

O  ye  that  moil, 

Yoked  to  the  soil, 
Still  are  ye  nobler  than  your  toil ! 

O  ye  that  plod, 

Turning  the  sod, 
Your  worship  lifts  you  up  to  God ! 

Not  of  the  earth 

Had  ye  your  birth ; 
Other  are  ye,  of  better  worth  ! 

Spirits,  not  clay ; 

Children  of  day ; 
Not  beasts  of  burden — souls  that  pray ! 

O  toiling  men, 

It  rings  again  — 
The  angelus  soundeth  now  as  then ! 

World  toilers,  hear, 

How,  far  and  near, 
"  Pray,  pray !  "  it  ringeth  sweet  and  clear. 


THE  ANGEL  OF  THE  SPRING-TIME 


a 


NGEL  of  the  Spring-time,"  said  she, 
"  Show  me  where  to  sow  my  grain. 

Shall  I  plant  it  round  my  door-step, 
Or  afar  there  on  the  plain  ?  " 
116 


£be  mint*  an&  tbe  SccO 

"  At  thy  feet !  "  the  angel  answered, 
'*  Sow  at  once  the  nearest  field  ! 
First,  thy  dooryard  ;  then  beyond  it, 
Let  new  fields  new  furrows  yield. 

"  Fill  the  nearest  spot  with  gladness, 

Fill  thy  home  with  goodness  sweet ; 
Wider  fields  shall  ask  thy  sowing, 
If  thou  first  sow  at  thy  feet ! 

"  Thus  for  thee  shall  widening  harvests 
Wave  their  manifolding  grain, 
Till  the  sixtyfold,  the  hundred, 
Gild  the  dooryard  and  the  plain  ! " 


THE  WIND  AND  THE  SEED 


Z 


HE  winds  of  God  may  waft 
The  winged  seed  of  thought 
To  fields  by  thee  unseen, 
Far  from  thy  little  plot. 


There  in  the  furrows  soft, 
Moulded  by  other  hands, 

Thy  tiny  seed  may  bear 
Fair  harvest  in  far  lands. 

God's  winds  blow  as  they  list, 
Whither  and  whence  unknown 

Should  He  but  give  thy  thought, 
Trust  Him  to  waft  His  own. 
117 


Gbe  "King's  arrows 

THE  KING'S  ARROWS 

"  And  Elisha  put  his  hands  on  the  king's  hands." 

— 2  Kings  /j  •  ib. 

AT  AY  hands  invisible,  O  Lord,  on  mine ! 
J^j     Thy  gracious  hands  of  guidance  and  of 

strength ; 
So,  from  bow  drawn  to  fullest  arrow's  length, 
Sure  shafts  shall  fly,  swift-wing'd  with  words  of 

Thine. 
Lay  hands  of  power,  lest  mine  should  feeble  prove; 
Lay  guiding   hands,  lest    mine  should  shoot 

astray  ; 
My  hands  are  weak  to  hold  the  bow ;  how  may 
They  speed  the  arrows  of  Thy  mighty  love  ? 

From  eastward  windows  opening  to  the  sun, 
The  arrows  of  the  Lord's  delivering  aid 

Shall  fly — shot  after  shot  from  out  Thy  Word, 

Nor  faithless  shall  I  stay  my  hands  while  one 
Remains,  if  but  the  while  on  mine  are  laid 
Thy  hands  invisible  and  pierc'd,  O  Lord ! 

Rutgers  College,  N.  J. 


% 


LOVE'S  EXCHANGE 

OVE  came  unto  the  market-place, 
Though  not  to  sell  for  profit's  sake, 
Nor  for  himself  some  gains  to  make, 

But  seeking  men  with  gifts  of  grace. 
118 


Gbe  "Hoon  ot  Xtte 

Most  lovely,  priceless  wares  he  bore, 
Till  then  unseen  ;  nor  had  the  sun 
Flashed  from  such  textures  finely  spun, 

Nor  traders  shown  such  stuffs  before. 

He  proffered  these  to  passers-by, 
But  not  for  gold  or  brilliant  gem. 
"  These  precious  things,  I  give  ye  them," 

Cried  Love,  with  beaming  face  and  eye. 

One  took  from  Love  a  jewelled  crown, 
One  decked  himself  in  velvet  fine, 
One  craved  swift  wings  and  smiles  divine, 

Love  gave  to  each  what  he  would  own. 

And  did  Love  take  no  pay  ?  Nay,  more, 
He  took  with  meekness,  without  scorn, 
The  rags  cast  off,  the  garments  worn, 

And  he  himself  the  tatters  wore. 

He  took  neglect,  dislike — to  prove 
Exchange  was  true.     Nor  felt  his  part 
Fulfilled  till  he  had  given  his  heart 

For  Hate,  and  taken  Hate  for  Love. 


1R 


THE  NOON  OF  LIFE 

OOX  of  Peace  in  God's  great  harbour, 
The  safe  hollow  of  His  hand  ! 
Our  bright  rushing  voyage  is  over, 
From  the  breezy  morning-land. 
119 


Gbe  faster  Speaks  to  tbe  Soul  of  ffattb 

Furl  we  now  our  sails  in  resting, 
While  our  boat  at  anchor  rides ; 

Till  our  life- craft,  fresh  waves  breasting, 
Courses  where  our  Pilot  guides. 

Moored  awhile  on  God's  own  bosom, 

Some  new  voyage  wait  we  here. 
Now  our  prow  is  set  to  westward, 

Sapphire  seas  roll  far  and  near. 
On  our  snowy  canvas  beaming, 

Shines  a  light  that  shall  not  cease. 
Skirt  we  Glory's  headlands,  gleaming 

With  the  City's  rapturous  Peace ! 


THE  MASTER  SPEAKS  TO  THE 
SOUL  OF  FAITH 

"  ^^EAR  not !     How  is  it  that  ye  have  no 
faith?" 
*U     Soul,  does  the   Master  speak  this  word 
to  thee? 
Surely  He  must,  for  while  the  word  He  saith, 
Dark  Unbelief  cries  out,  "  He  speaks  to  me  ! " 

"  O  thou  of  little  faith  !  "     Again  His  word 
Borne  on  the  air  seems  meant  for  me  alone. 

So  little  faith,  so  little,  have  I,  Lord  ! 

Surely  Thou  meanest  me,  Thy  weakest  one ! 
120 


prater 

"  O  woman,  great  thy  faith  !  "  wond'ring  I  heard, 
And  felt  a  holy  joy  in  that  still  hour. 

O  can  it  be  for  me,  this  mighty  word  ? 

And  do  I  greatly  trust  Thy  love  and  power  ? 

Once  more, "  A  faith  so  great  I  have  not  found,"  — - 
Might  I  believe  this  was  Thy  voice  to  me, 

Then  should  my  soul,  set  free  at  one  great  bound, 
Find  utter,  endless,  final  faith  in  Thee ! 


PRAYER 

-gl^RAYER  is  a  copious  cloud 
|U       Hung  o'er  the  parching  plain  ; 
U^    Softly  it  falls  or  loud, 

In  unbought,  priceless  rain. 
Pray  for  thy  friend  !     Upon  him  shall  distill 
Those  showers  of  love  God  sendeth  at  His  will ! 

Prayer  is  a  flowering  tree 

Fed  from  an  unseen  root. 
It  cannot  fail,  where'er  it  be, 
To  bring  forth  ripened  fruit. 
Thine  be  a  tree  which  many  blossoms  fill ! 
Each  bud  bears  fruit.     It  is  the  Master's  will. 

Prayer  is  a  glorious  star, 

Its  orbit  out  of  sight ; 
It  speeds  beyond  the  midnight's  bar 

Far  towards  the  throne  of  light. 

121 


Secret  prager 

Then  it  returns,  steadfast,  serene  and  still ; 
Its  rounded  arc  completed  by  God's  will. 

Prayer  is  the  setting  sun, 

Lost  in  the  glowing  west ; 
So  drops  our  prayer,  when  day  is  done, 
In  the  All-Father's  breast. 
But  it  shall  rise  beyond  the  Eastern  hill  — 
A  glorious  sun  of  strength,  to  work  God's  shin- 
ing will ! 


S 


SECRET  PRAYER 

IT  in  the  hidden  room  in  prayer  and  silence. 

The  door  shall  open.    Two  shall  enter  in  — 

Sweet  Grace  and  Peace  shall  come,  sent  by 

the  Father, 
And  from  the  Lord  who  takes  away  thy  sin. 


The  lustrous  brightness  of  their  garments'  glory 
Fills  all  the  room,  and  rests  upon  thy  head. 

They  join  their  hands  above  thy  brow  in  blessing, 
A  breath  of  Heaven's  deep  joy  is  o'er  thee 
spread. 

Beside  them  seated,  thou  shalt  learn  the  meaning 
Of  that  great  love  wherewith  thou  hast  been 
loved  — 
Exceeding  riches  of  His  Grace  and  kindness, 
The  love  to  thee  with  which  thy  God  is  moved. 
122 


t>ome 

O,  let  them  talk  to  thee  and  fill  thy  being 

With  sense  of  sin  forgiven  and  power  unknown. 

Free  Grace  in  Christ  shall  give  thy  eyes  new  see- 
ing, 
And  Peace  shall  fill  thy  spirit  with  her  own. 

Then  to  a  world  of  sin  and  darkest  sorrow 
Thou  shalt  return,  a  messenger  to  men. 

For  Grace  and  Peace  shall  henceforth  walk  be- 
side thee, 
And  work  thy  Saviour's  works  with  thee  again. 


HOME 

^^HE  heavenly  home-bringing  will  be  sweet, 
L\^,       will  be  sweet ! 

The   heavenly  home-coming  of  the  oft- 
weary  feet. 
The  eyes  often  raised  to  the  Father's  abode, 
Will  be  glad  evermore  when  they  look  on  their 
God. 

The  heavenly  home-bringing  will  be  soon,  will 

be  soon ! 
For  the  morning  hours  are  gone,  and  it's  far  past 

noon. 
The  shadows  are  length'ning  and  twilight-hush 

has  come, 
And  I  almost  hear   His  voice  saying,  "  Child, 

come  home  ! " 

123 


n  IPragcr 

The  heavenly  home-bringing  will  be  bright,  will 

be  bright ! 
For  the  shadows   all  will  flee,  when  there's  no 

more  night ; 
A  glimpse  of  heaven's  glory,  I  even  now  can  see, 
But  when  the  door  opens,  full  splendour  there 

will  be. 

I  may  not  look  back  on  the  life  so  nearly  done, 

But  forward  evermore  towards  the  eve's  set  of  sun. 

Towards  the  morn's  glory-dawn,  and  the  bright- 
ness of  the  place  — 

Where  soon  He  will  take  me,  to  see  Him  face  to 
face. 

My  heaven's  breaking  on  me  !  I  feel  it  very  near ! 
His  chariot  tarries  not !  Its  rolling  wheels  I  hear ! 
His    angels    upward  bear  me  to  my  soul's  true 

home ; 
"  O  surely  He  comes  quickly  !     Even  so,  Lord, 

come ! " 


A  PRAYER 

HIGHER,  purer, 
Deeper,  surer, 

Be  my  thought,  O  Christ,  of  Thee ! 
Break  the  narrow  bonds  that  limit 
All  my  earth-born,  sin-bound  spirit 
124 


Gbe  TIEionoer  of  Sleep 

To  the  breadth  of  Thy  divine  ! 
Not  my  thought,  but  Thy  creation, 

Be  the  image,  purely  Thine ; 
Deep  within  my  spirit's  shrine 
Make  the  secret  revelation ; 

Reproduce  Thy  life  in  mine. 

Truer,  clearer, 
Lovelier,  dearer, 

Be  my  thought,  O  Christ,  of  Thee  ! 
Not  my  earthly,  crude  conception, 
But  the  holy,  true  reception 

Of  Thy  Spirit's  teaching  high  ! 
May  He  heighten,  clear,  enlighten, 

Every  thought  intensify ! 
So  Thy  lovely  image  brighten, 
Till  I  Thee  transfigured  see ! 

Oh,  reveal  Thy  life  in  me ! 


THE  WONDER  OF  SLEEP 

♦IT^OW  strange  is  sleep  that  falls  from  out 
Pi    J       the  spheres, 

And  falling  quenches  mortal  pain  ! 
Whence  comes  it  to  extinguish  burning  tears 
And  cool  the  white-hot  brain ! 

Or  shaken  poppy-buds,  whence  have  they  power 

To  seal  and  mortise  human  eyes  ? 
How  lull  they  for  one  short  and  charmed  hour 

All  rending  human  cries  ? 
125 


ffor  tbe  (Bue6t=Cbamber 

Rain  down,  rain  down  from  stillest  depth  of  space, 
O  slumber,  potent  witchcraft  deep  ! 

Pour  o'er  tired  eyes  and  hearts  the  speechless  grace 
Of  magic,  mystic  sleep  ! 


FOR  THE  GUEST-CHAMBER 


S 


WEETLY  rest,  my  friend  and  guest, 
In  this  chamber,  peace-possessed. 
Quiet  pass  the  hours  of  night 
Till  the  holy  dawn  of  light. 
God  above,  thy  heart  enfold 
In  His  love  unchanged,  untold ; 

Wake  thee  by  His  touch  from  sleep 
Who  does  His  beloved  keep. 
Good-night,  and  rest, 
My  friend  and  guest ! 


K 


SLEEP 

E  slumbers  not,  that  thou  mayest  rest ; 

He  wakes,  that  thou  mayest  sleep  ! 
So  on  the  great  All-Father's  breast, 

Sink  thou  in  slumber  deep. 


Hast  thou  not  heard,  He  fainteth  not ! 

He  cannot  weary  be  ! 
Tireless  beyond  all  reach  of  thought, 

From  old  Eternity ! 
126 


"WLbetbex  TMe  Sleep  or  Ti&afte 

He  waits  thy  eyelids'  tender  close, 

On  tired  eyes  softly  pressed ; 
And  lulled  in  charmed  deep  repose, 

Sleep  thou  on  His  great  breast ! 


«  WHETHER  WE  SLEEP  THEREFORE  OR 
WAKE,  WE  ARE  THE  LORD'S  " 


© 


NE  day  the  ringers  of  the  Lord 

Upon  my  eyes  shall  lie ; 
And  when  their  tender  weight  shall  lift, 
'Twill  be  eternity. 


But  while  He  holds  my  yielding  lids 
With  that  soft  force  of  His, 

My  spirit  shall  not  sleep,  but  wake 
Into  His  utter  bliss. 


1b 


THE  WATCH 

OW  strange  the  mystic  watch  we  keep, 

With  our  Beloved  Dead, 
Before  we  lay  them,  tranced  in  sleep, 

In  their  lone  narrow  bed. 


They  seem  with  us  a  little  while 
Still  lingeringly  to  stay 

Before  their  last  mysterious  smile 
Is  veiled  from  us  away. 
127 


rtbinc  J££e  Sball  3BcbolD  Dim 

Tis  they ;  and  yet  no  word  they  speak 

With  sweet  familiar  sound. 
Repose  how  awful — yet  how  meek, 

How  changeless,  how  profound  ! 

On  marble-carven  lips  and  brow 

The  charm  gleams  as  of  old, 
Like  light  that  falls  on  purest  snow  — 

As  lovely  and  as  cold. 

But  'tis  not  they  !     Our  hearts  must  break, 

E'en  by  the  precious  form. 
Life,  only  life,  can  still  the  ache  — 

Life,  tender,  true  and  warm. 

Hark  the  high  word  that  conquers  pain, 

The  word  of  trumpet  tone  : 
Thy  sleeping  ones  shall  live  again 

When  Jesus  wakes  His  own. 

O  Day  of  Days  !     "  The  Lord  has  come  !  " 

They  catch  the  glory  word. 
With  Him  they  rise  to  life  and  home, 

Forever  with  the  Lord. 

MINE  EYE  SHALL  BEHOLD  HIM 

MOPE  fair  and  sweet,  that  on  some  bright 
to-morrow 
We  shall  behold  Him — He  has  prom- 
ised this. 
How  then  will  fade  each  clinging  sin  and  sorrow, 
When  made  like  Him,  we  see  Him  as  He  is. 
128 


Zbc  CbreefolD  Song 

We  shall  see  Jesus  !     Living  hope  victorious, 
O'er  sin  and  fear  and  terrors  of  the  night ! 

Our  eyes  shall  see  the  King  in  beauty  glorious, 
Our  eyes  shall  see  that  far-off  land  of  light. 

Not  having  seen,  we  love  Him ;  still  believing 
They,  too,  are  blest,  who  love  Him  without 
sight ; 
Faith's  promised  end  with  fullest  joy  receiving, 
When    we     shall    waken     on    that    morning 
bright ! 


THE  THREEFOLD  SONG 


S 


ERAPHS  cry  by  day  and  night, 

Each  to  each  the  threefold  word ; 
Chanting  far  in  upper  light, 
"  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  !  " 


We,  beneath  our  lower  skies, 
Dull  of  ear,  of  eyesight  dim, 

Sometimes  catch  with  sweet  surprise 
Echoes  of  that  wondrous  hymn. 

Then  a  light  falls  on  our  heart, 
We  forget  our  sin  and  wrong ; 

Spirit-taught,  we  bear  a  part 
In  that  three-times  holy  song. 
129 


Cbe  Bternal  JLove 

"  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  !  " 
All  our  soul  adoring  cries  ; 

Then  on  earth  we  sound  the  chord 
Seraphs  strike  in  Paradise. 


© 


THE  ETERNAL  LOVE 

THAT  a  glory-light  would  gleam 
On  my  dull  rounds  of  care ! 

Or  music  from  some  heavenly  theme 
Throb  through  this  earthly  air ! 


But  hark,  my  soul !  soft  from  above, 

Eluding  mortal  ear, 
The  voice  of  the  Eternal  Love  — 

An  inward  voice — sounds  clear. 

"  From  everlasting,  from  before 
The  birth  of  earth  or  heaven, 

My  love  to  thee,  forevermore 
Changeless  and  free  was  given." 

So  speaks  the  Lover  of  my  soul ; 

The  air  throbs  with  His  breath ; 
What  glory-lights  are  these  that  roll 

O'er  care  and  life  and  death ! 

130 


Gbg  "fteigbbour's  Deart 

THY  NEIGHBOUR'S  HEART 

HERE'S  a  little  green  lane  in  every  heart, 
Though    shadeless    and  dusty  its  high- 
ways burn ; 
In  a  byway  moist  with  mosses  and  fern, 
Green  trees  are  leafy  and  wild  brooks  start. 


Z 


'Tis  a  close-hidden  lane,  and  you  may  not  know 
Where  to  look  for  its  deep,  secluded  green. 
But  some  finer  fragrance,  an  air  serene, 

A  starry  blossom, — its  hiding  will  show. 

Though  fiery  the  sun,  and  worldly  the  mart, 
The  real  man  lingers  in  this  sweet  place. 
'Tis  a  piece  of  his  childhood's  diviner  grace. 

Be  sure  that  you  find  it, — your  neighbour's  heart ! 


THE  LANGUAGE  OF  LOVE 


n 


O  word  but  a  hopeful  one 
Thy  loved  one  must  hear ; 
From  morn  till  the  day  is  done, 
Speak  only  good  cheer. 
No  look  but  a  smile  of  love 

Thy  lover  may  see. 
Thou  mayest  bring  from  above 
Thy  tranquillity ! 

131 


Gwo  petitions 


xr 


TWO  PETITIONS 

WO  prayers  I  lift, 
With  each  I  say,  "  This  gift 
O  God,  be  mine !  " 
Love — that  is  one  — 
For  all  beneath  the  sun ; 
And  deep  humility 
Within,  where  God  can  see. 
These  be  Thy  gifts  to  me, 
Love  and  humility, 

Thine  own  great  gifts  divine. 

And  since  I  know 
That  very  soon  I  go 

Beyond  the  stars ; 
And  since  much  must  be  done 
In  narrow  span  of  sun, 
Work  in  me,  in  short  space 
Thy  miracle  of  grace. 
Lord,  send  the  answer  swift 
For  the  two  prayers  I  lift, 

Or  e'er  I  cross  life's  bars. 


132 


Jesus  Christ 

anb 

ftt^mns 


HIS  FACE 

/^P^NCE  at  my  very  side 
^j\J         Shone  there  a  Face, 
Full  of  unfathomed  love, 
Full  of  all  grace. 
There  glanced  my  father's  look 

Speaking  to  me ; 
Beamed  there  my  brother's  brow, 
Noble  and  free ! 

Peaceful  and  innocent, 

Pure — like  my  child, 
Deep  as  my  husband's  heart, 

On  me  it  smiled. 
In  it  there  gleamed  the  light  — 

Ah,  what  a  glow !  — 
Of  my  dear  friendly  loves, 

All  that  I  know. 

From  it  a  radiance  streamed, 

Sun-like,  sublime ! 
There  gathered  holy  looks, 

Those  of  all  time. 
Aspects  of  sainted  souls  — 

Felt  I  their  tears  ! 
Full  of  all  heavenliness, 

Martyrs  and  seers. 
135 


Zbc  mciesbovn 

Mighty,  angelic  power, 

Seraphic  grace, 
Mingled  their  mellow  fires 

In  that  One  Face  ! 
Opened  Eternity ; 

Then,  at  a  word, 
Knew  I  the  Face  of  Him, 

Jesus,  my  Lord ! 

THE  WEISSHORN 

*Y1^ffS|  HAT  lies  so  spotless  and  so  white, 
\J  ^1  \    Lifting  in  purity  and  might 
Its  dome  ethereally  high 
In  azure  reservoirs  of  sky  ? 
It  fills  the  eye,  the  heaven  no  less,  — 
'Tis  my  Redeemer's  righteousness ! 

What  flows  so  strong,  so  free,  so  bright, 
From  snowy  Alpine  height  to  height  ? 
Like  marching  music  is  its  song, 
Still  pouring  deepening  tides  along 
Through  ages  past,  and  Time's  great  Now. 
River  of  Life,  'tis  thou,  'tis  thou  ! 

What  hangs  above  the  mountain's  crest 
While  purple  dawning  fills  the  east, 
And  rolls  a  soft  effulgence  clear 
O'er  sleeping  mead  and  valley  dear, 
Foretelling  daybreak  near  and  far  ? 
'Tis  Thou,  O  bright  and  morning  Star ! 

Switzerland,  1898. 

136 


Snow  on  tbc  JBrettborn 
SNOW  ON  THE  BREITHORN 


% 


AY  on  us,  Christ,  Thy  glory, 
Thy  robe  of  righteousness, 
As  on  these  mountains  hoary 
Is  laid  a  dazzling  dress. 


Vast  breadths  of  beaming  splendour 
The  rugged  headlands  hide, 

And  smoothed  to  contours  tender 
In  beauty  they  abide, 

Reflecting  (though  by  nature 
So  dark  they  cannot  shine) 

In  every  gleaming  feature 
A  purity  divine. 

So  on  us  fall  Thy  brightness ! 

Thy  glory  o'er  us  throw, 
Thy  robe  of  radiant  whiteness 

More  dazzling  than  the  snow. 


MOUNTAIN  HEIGHTS 

HEN  wilt  thou,  oh  my  soul,  arise 
To  mountain   heights  serene   and 
broad 

Where  glory  like  a  garment  lies, 
And  rapture  like  a  robe  of  God  ? 
137 


to 


5esus  Creator 


Seest  thou  where  splendour  and  repose 
Rest  with  a  peace  naught  can  destroy, 

And  radiant  sunlight  sweeps  and  flows, 
O'er  heights  of  beatific  joy  ? 

Then  came  a  voice,  "  Thou  shalt  attain 
E'en  to  the  very  heights  of  God, 

When  down  upon  the  weary  plain 
Thou  seek'st  to  lift  thy  brother's  load. 

"  First,  joy  to  bear  another's  pain, 
Nor  think  of  scaling  rapture's  height; 

With  others  suffering,  thou  shalt  reign 
With  God  upon  His  Peaks  of  Light." 


% 


JESUS  CREATOR 

ORD  of  Life,  how  breaks  Thy  glory 
Out  of  star  and  flower  and  clod  ! 

Sun  and  atom  tell  one  story, — 
Christ,  the  Maker,  Christ  is  God ! 


Burnished  leaf,  translucent  shadow, 
Charmed  waters  laid  in  sleep, 

Azure  skies  and  soft  green  meadow, 
Chant  this  chorus  lowly,  deep. 

Sovereign  seas  and  sunsets  golden, 
Silver  bars  of  farthest  space, 

Crystal  spars  and  seacoast  olden, 

Song  of  bird  and  cloud-flight's  grace, 
138 


Sabbatb  Evening  before  Sunset 

Soul-smile  laughing  out  of  childhood, 

Sweet  serenity  of  age, 
Lulling  brooks  or  cloistered  wildwood,  — 

Runs  one  record  on  each  page : 

"  Life  in  Him,"  the  World-Book  preaches ; 

Thine  all  colour,  motion,  light. 
Radiant  form  or  texture  teaches 

Thy  great  tenderness  or  might ! 

Tis  from  Thee,  O  Christ,  creation 
Streams  as  from  a  fountain  free ! 

Of  Thy  Godhead  revelation, 
Image  beautiful  of  Thee  ! 


SABBATH  EVENING  BEFORE  SUNSET 

♦ITT  is  as  if  the  Lord  had  just  ascended  — 
}$        The  air  has   grown  so  clear,  so  full  of 

light- 

And  that  white  cloud  with  heaven's  deep  azure 
blended 
Had  just  received  Him  from  our  transfixed 
sight ! 

The  radiance  of  His  robe  seems  yet  to  glisten 
On  the  still  waves  of  crystal,  shining  air; 

And  words  of  benediction  as  we  listen 

Fall  like  a  fragrance  on  the  soul  in  prayer. 
139 


Gbe  Invisible  Cbrtat 

The  golden  air,  the  silence,  and  the  blessing ; 

The  vanished  Lord  ;  the  hearts  that  in  us  burn ! 
Breathless  we  watch  the  pomp,  our  hearts  con- 
fessing 

His  coming  glory  and  His  sure  return ! 


Z 


THE  INVISIBLE  CHRIST 

HROUGH  all  the  world's  wide  market  place 
There  walks  a  lonely,  loving  One ; 

So  close  to  man,  that  face  to  face 

He  speaks,  and  yet  He  is  not  known  ! 


The  Christ  invisible  is  He, 

Veiled  'mid  the  hurrying,  blinded  throng ; 
So  close  to  men  they  needs  must  see, — 

The  crowds  so  near  He  walks  among. 

And  yet  they  see  Him  not,  nor  guess 
How  near  them  presses  the  Divine ! 

They  catch  no  light  of  holiness, 
Of  Godhead  they  receive  no  sign. 

Reveal  Thy  glory,  risen  King, 

Nor  for  men's  darkness  longer  stay! 
Rise  on  the  midnight ;  swiftly  bring 

The  light,  the  splendour  of  the  Day  ! 
140 


© 


fox  Otbers 

FOR  OTHERS 

An  Easter  Hymn 

THERS  He  saved  ;  Himself  He  could  not 

save, 
Nor  from  the  cross  come  down,  nor  shun 
the  grave. 
God's  only  Son  His  life  for  others  gave  ! 
Alleluia,  Alleluia! 

For  others  through  the  dewy  night  He  prayed. 
Like  to  His  brethren  in  His  nature  made, 
Their  sin  and  suffering  all  on  Him  were  laid. 
Alleluia,  Alleluia! 

He  bound  the  hearts  that  pain  and  sorrow  broke, 
And  to  the  poor  in  heavenly  accents  spoke ; 
For  others  bore  the  stripe  and  bruising  stroke. 
Alleluia,  Alleluia! 

Prisons  He  opened  to  the  captive  slave ; 
Garments  of  praise  for  heavy  mourning  gave, 
Sight  to  the  blind.     It  was  His  work  to  save! 
Alleluia,  Alleluia! 

He  wore  a  crown  of  thorns,  that  we  might  wear 
A  crown  of  glory  in  those  worlds  most  fair, 
Where  we  His  beauty  and  His  power  shall  share. 

Alleluia,  Alleluia! 
For  others  He  arose  from  Death's  dark  night, 
For  others  claimed  His  Godhead's  regal  right, 
For  others  lives  to-day  in  realms  of  light. 

Alleluia,  Alleluia! 
141 


Xlhe  THnto  Die  JBretbren 


IT 


LIKE  UNTO  HIS  BRETHREN 

WALKED  beyond  the  village  street 
Far  up  a  hillside  green  and  sweet. 
There  met  I  One  who  straightway  coming 
down 
Faced  ever  forward  towards  our  little  town. 


Where  will  He  stay?     What  house  shall  greet 
The  coming  of  the  stranger's  feet  ? 
I  envied  those  who  dwelt  in  noblest  homes  — 
For  glad,  I  said,  the  threshold  where  He  comes. 

I  saw  Him  turn  aside  and  slow 

Down  a  rude  street,  unnoticed,  go. 

No  flowers  or  cooling  fountains  graced  the  way, 

Dusty  and  hot  and  stifling  grew  the  day. 

He  stepped  into  a  lowly  shop. 
Why  does  He  deign  to  make  this  stop  ? 
Within  were  tools  and  shavings  curled  in  piles, 
The  axe,  the  saw,  the  hammer,  nails  and  files. 

I  had  not  thought  this  workman's  home 
Was  that  to  which  such  guest  should  come ; 
And  half  ashamed  for  our  poor  town,  I  cried, 
"  Sire,  we  have  splendid  homes  where  we  abide ! 

"  Come  Thou  where  vaulted  arches  high 
Shut  off  with  shade  the  sultry  sky. 
Where  music  lulls  the  weary  spirit  still ; 
Come  where  Thou  wilt  forget  all  human  ill !  " 
142 


Cbriet  ©ur  life 


On  me  He  looked !     Can  I  forget 
The  love  that  there  my  vision  met  ? 
Like  to  His  brethren  made  in  low  degree, 
The  Carpenter — yet  Son  of  God  was  He ! 


CHRIST  OUR  LIFE 

"  I  am  come  that  they  might  have  life,  and  that  they  might 
have  it  more  abundantly." 


S 


WEET  the  life,  O  Jesus,  Master, 

Flowing  down  from  Thee,  our  Head ! 
Through  the  stronger  coursing  faster, 

On  each  weakest  member  shed. 
Life  from  Thee,  the  ceaseless  Giver, 

Fills  Thy  Church  unceasingly ; 
All  the  life  of  each  believer 

Every  moment  comes  from  Thee. 

Strong  the  life,  O  Jesus,  Master, 

Working  in  us  even  here ; 
Not  our  own, — a  life  far  vaster 

Draw  we  from  our  Lord  most  dear. 
Life  for  sweet  and  strong  endeavour, 

For  all  service  glad  and  free ; 
All  the  life  of  each  believer 

Every  moment  comes  from  Thee. 

Full  Thy  life,  O  Jesus,  Master ! 

More  abundant  life  divine 
Give  us,  kingly  Shepherd,  Pastor ; 

Let  Thy  sweet  life  through  us  shine  i 
143 


Cbg  Xove  to  dfce 


Thine  exhaustless  life  forever 

Flows  to  us  perpetually ; 
All  the  life  of  each  believer 

Every  moment  comes  from  Thee. 


THY  LOVE  TO  ME 

"  /  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love" 
Tune — More  Love  to  Thee;  or  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee. 


XL 


HY  love  to  me,  O  Christ, 

Thy  love  to  me, 
Not  mine  to  Thee,  I  plead, 
Not  mine  to  Thee ! 
This  is  my  comfort  strong, 
This  is  my  only  song, 
Thy  love  to  me. 

Thy  record  I  believe, 

Thy  word  to  me. 
Thy  love  I  now  receive, 

Full,  changeless,  free. 
Love  from  the  sinless  Son, 
Love  to  the  sinful  one, 

Thy  love  to  me. 

Immortal  love  of  Thine, 

Thy  sacrifice, 
Infinite  need  of  mine 

Only  supplies. 
144 


a  prater 


Streams  of  divinest  power, 
Flow  to  me,  hour  by  hour, 
Thy  love  to  me. 

Let  me  more  clearly  trace, 

Thy  love  to  me, 
See  in  the  Father's  face, 

His  love  to  Thee ; 
Know  as  He  loves  the  Son, 
So  dost  Thou  love  Thine  own, 

Thy  love  to  me. 


A  PRAYER 

-  What  time  I  am  afraid,  I  will  trust  in  Thee." 

^^*IRM  in  Thy  strong  control, 

|  j     O  Father,  hold  my  soul 
W         Faithful  to  Thee  ! 
If  e'er  I  fear  to  fall, 
Then  let  me  hear  Thee  call, 
"  I  am  thy  all  in  all, 
Trust  thou  in  Me." 

A  revelation  new 

Of  what  Thy  grace  can  do, 

O,  God,  be  mine  ! 
The  need  is  all  my  own, 
The  grace  is  Thine  alone ; 
Grace  deep  as  need,  make  known, 

Thy  grace  divine. 
145 


a  JBcWevex'e  prager 


A  power  within  reveal, 
Thy  power  to  help  and  heal, 

Strong,  changeless,  free ! 
O,  by  temptations  sore, 
By  sorrows  that  He  bore 
Who  loves  me  evermore, 

Give  victory. 

Thy  freeman — once  a  slave  — 
Freedom  to  serve  I  crave, 

To  serve  but  Thee. 
Blessing  and  being  blest, 
Be  this  my  only  quest, 
How  I  may  serve  Thee  best, 

Till  Thee  I  see. 


dfo 


A  BELIEVER'S  PRAYER 

ORE  of  the  Spirit's  upholding, 

More  trust  that  He  guides  His  own. 
More  of  His  deeply-wrought  moulding 
Of  each  thought  and  act  and  tone. 


More  of  the  strenuous  willing 
To  place  our  treasures  above. 

More  of  the  patient  fulfilling 
Of  the  royal  law  of  love. 
146 


©nl£  tbc  tUorfcs  of  <3oo 

More  of  the  eager  compelling 
Of  the  lost  sheep  to  come  in. 

More  of  the  Spirit's  indwelling, 
In  the  power  that  conquers  sin. 

More  of  the  tenderer  bearing 
"  A  dying  Christ  on  the  heart "  ; 

So  more  of  the  Christlike  sharing 
Of  the  weaker  brother's  part. 

More  of  the  Spirit's  unfolding 
Of  the  wondrous  words  of  grace. 

More  of  the  blissful  beholding 
Of  the  risen  Saviour's  face. 


ONLY  THE  WORDS  OF  GOD 

^^*HY  voice — though  many  voices  call ; 
^1^,       Thy  words — though  other  words  may 

move ; 
Thy  thoughts  be  to  me  all  in  all. 

Thy  voice,  Thy  words,  Thy  thoughts  are  love  ! 

Stay  Thou  the  flow  of  voices  strong ; 

Quench  other  words,  so  I  hear  Thine , 
And     hold     in     leash     world-thoughts     which 
throng ; — 
That  I  may  think  Thy  thoughts  divine. 
147 


JBebolMnfl,  JBeltevtna,  Belonging 

O  have  these  words  to  us  been  given 

Direct,  expressing  all  Thou  art  — 
Words,  thoughts,  that  had  their  birth  in  heaven, 

Drawn  deep  from  Thy  unfathomed  heart  ? 

Then  let  me  hear  in  silence  deep 

The  words  that  have  no  outward  sound, 

The  pure,  the  perfect  tones  that  sweep 
From  Spirit  to  our  souls'  profound. 

The  breathing  of  the  inviolate  word, 
The  voiceless  Spirit's  yearning  cry, 

Shall  utterance  find — through  us  be  heard, 
When  we  repeat  His  message  high. 


BEHOLDING,  BELIEVING,  BELONGING 

John  6 :  40  (r.  v.) 

f  BEHOLD  Thee,  Jesus,  Saviour, 
Dying  on  the  cross  for  me ; 
O,  Thou  Man  of  Sorrow,  let  me 
Never  turn  my  eyes  from  Thee. 

I  believe  in  Thee,  my  Saviour  — 
Life  eternal  Thou  dost  give ; 

Son  of  God,  my  strong  Redeemer, 
Thine  own  life  I  now  receive. 

I  belong  to  Thee,  my  Saviour ; 

None  has  loved  me — none  like  Thee. 
Thine  to-day,  O  Risen  Master, 

In  the  glory  Thine  to  be. 
148 


Gbe  5ust  ffot  tbe  Tllnjugt 

Constantly  beholding,  daily 

My  belief  in  Thee  grows  strong, 

And  new  grace  is  given  to  serve  Thee, 
Thee  to  whom  I  now  belong. 


THE  JUST  FOR  THE  UNJUST 

Tune— Rock  of  Ages. 


3 


LESSED  was  the  dying  thief 
Looking  on  his  dying  Lord, 
Sure  and  strong  was  his  belief, 
For  he  saw  the  blood  outpoured. 
Saw  the  cruel  spear-points  thrust — 
Saw  the  Just  die  for  the  unjust. 

Not  for  him  the  cross  was  dim, 
(Though  our  eyes  may  holden  be,) 

Christ  upon  the  tree  for  hint, 
Nothing  else  his  eyes  could  see. 

In  the  whole  wide  world  beside, 

None  but  Jesus  crucified ! 

"  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up, 

Will  draw  all  men  unto  Me." 
So  the  Saviour  drank  the  cup 

Of  our  guilt  and  misery. 
In  His  body  on  the  tree, 
Bare  our  sins  to  set  us  free ! 
149 


Gbe  Douse  ot  ftsetcv 

Midnight  dark  fell  at  mid-day ; 

But  before  the  darkness  came, 
One  glad  sinner  found  the  way  — 

Life  through  Jesus'  mighty  name. 
O  to-day  that  I  might  see 
Only  Jesus — slain  for  me  ! 


THE  HOUSE  OF  MERCY 

For  the  dedication  of  a  church. 


S 


ESUS  now  in  glory  dwelling, 
Far  beyond  our  loving  sight, 
In  the  splendour  most  excelling, 
In  the  great  excess  of  light, — 


While  we  build  for  Thee  a  temple 
In  earth's  lowly,  needy  place, 

Fill  the  house  with  measures  ample 
Of  the  Spirit  of  all  grace. 

Build  the  house  Thyself,  O  Saviour ; 

House  of  Mercy  let  it  be, 
Where  the  lost  shall  find  Thy  favour, 

And  the  weary  rest  in  Thee. 

Wide  its  doors  of  pardon  setting, 
Bid  the  heavy-laden  come, 

All  their  sin  and  care  forgetting 
In  the  new-found  peace  of  home. 
150 


Gospel  Derates 


Sweetly  call  the  children  growing 
Like  fair  lilies  in  the  Lord ; 

Set  fresh  streams  of  goodness  flowing 
From  the  richness  of  the  Word. 

Here  give  life  for  death,  revealing 

All  Thy  dying  love  again. 
Teach  new  power  of  service,  sealing 

To  Thy  work  devoted  men. 

Make  this  humble  house  most  glorious 
With  Thy  presence  from  above, 

Fill  it  with  Thy  power  victorious, 
Lord  of  light,  of  peace,  and  love  ! 


GOSPEL  HERALDS 

"  Whither  He  Himself  would  come." — Luke  10  :  i. 

SEND  Thou,  O  Lord,  to  every  place 
Swift  messengers  before  Thy  face, 
The  heralds  of  Thy  wondrous  grace, 
Where  Thou,  Thyself,  wilt  come. 

Send  men  whose  eyes  have  seen  the  King ; 
Men  in  whose  ears  His  sweet  words  ring; 
Send  such  Thy  lost  ones  home  to  bring ; 
Send  them  where  Thou  wilt  come. 

To  bring  good  news  to  souls  in  sin ; 
The  bruised  and  broken  hearts  to  win; 
In  every  place  to  bring  them  in ; 

Where  Thou,  Thyself,  wilt  come. 
151 


"Rise  on  tbe  Sbaooweo  TRatione 

Thou  who  hast  died,  Thy  victory  claim; 
Assert,  O  Christ,  Thy  glory's  name ! 
And  far  to  lands  of  pagan  shame, 

Send  men  where  Thou  wilt  come. 

Gird  each  one  with  the  Spirit's  sword, 
The  sword  of  Thine  own  deathless  word ; 
And  make  them  conquerors,  conquering  Lord, 
Where  Thou,  Thyself,  wilt  come. 

Raise  up,  O  Lord,  the  Holy  Ghost, 
From  this  broad  land  a  mighty  host, 
Their  war  cry,  "  We  will  seek  the  lost, 

Where  Thou,  O  Christ,  wilt  come ! " 

Rutgers  College,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  i8go. 


RISE  ON  THE  SHADOWED  NATIONS 

♦g^^ISE  on  the  shadowed  nations, 
Vf\       O  Sun  of  Righteousness  ! 
With  heavenly  revelations 
The  sin-worn  peoples  bless  ! 
Break  with  Thy  radiant  splendour, 

O  Glory  of  our  God, 
With  light  divine  and  tender, 
O'er  every  land  abroad. 

O  Christ,  our  sky  is  lighted 

With  beams  that  fall  from  Thee ; 

Rise  Thou  on  souls  benighted, 
Thy  light  let  all  men  see. 
152 


jfl&E  kinswoman 


Stay  not  for  heathen  blindness, 

Stay  not  for  unbelief! 
Come,  in  Thy  love  and  kindness, 

And  bring  the  world  relief! 

Send  heralds  swift  before  Thee, — 

Men  who  have  seen  the  King ; 
Those  who  will  show  Thy  glory, 

And  joyous  tidings  bring. 
The  Church,  Thy  love  confessing, 

Be  filled  with  holy  zeal 
To  speak  the  words  of  blessing, 

To  seek,  to  save,  to  heal ! 

Let  her,  in  faith  victorious, 

Subdue  earth's  sin  and  pain ; 
Prepare  the  way  all  glorious 

For  Thy  most  blessed  reign. 
Desire  of  every  nation, 

Come  in  Thy  love  and  might ; 
Bring  in  the  great  salvation, 

The  world-wide  reign  of  light ! 


Z 


MY  KINSWOMAN 

HE  Syrophcenician  woman 
Is  my  sister  of  long  ago  ! 
For  ties  most  vitally  human 
Bind  us  close  in  mutual  woe. 
153 


ftsy  fdnswoman 

Though  centuries  roll  between  us, 
Like  a  bridgeless,  wide-rolling  sea, 

The  angels  perhaps  have  seen  us 
Clasp  hands  in  mute  agony. 

I  cannot  fancy  her  features, 

And  I  know  not  even  her  name, 

Yet  one  we  are  in  our  natures, 

And  our  deep  heart-needs  are  the  same. 

We  are  one  by  Mother-feeling, 

And  we  beg  from  the  same  kind  Lord, 

For  dear  ones  His  touch  of  healing, 
Though  "  He  answer  us  not  a  word." 

His  words, — while  still  she  was  praying 
For  the  crumbs  from  His  table  spilt, — 

"  O  woman,  for  this  thy  saying, 
Be  it  unto  thee  as  thou  wilt " — 

I,  too,  would  hear  while  abiding 
With  her  at  His  feet,  as  I  must, 

To  learn  a  sweeter  confiding 

And  a  truer  trust  from  her  trust. 

As  simply  I'll  tell  Him  my  story ! 

For  to  her  the  Master  saith, 
Those  words  of  immortal  glory, 

"  O  Woman,  great  is  thy  faith  !  " 
154 


Zbe  View  TIDlomanboo& 
THE  NEW  WOMANHOOD 

Tune — Italian  Hymn. 

^^HE  notes  of  woman's  praise, 
41^  Jesus,  to  Thee  we  raise, 
Full,  clear  and  strong ! 
O  by  Thy  human  birth, 
O  by  our  nature's  worth, 
O  by  the  needs  of  earth, 
Hear  this  new  song  ! 

New  hope,  new  gifts,  new  power, 
Give  us  in  this  new  hour  — 

A  love  world-wide ! 
Fresh  gifts  of  ministry, 
Deep  power  of  sympathy, 
Sure  hope  of  victory, 

Thou,  who  hast  died  ! 

Helpers,  O  Christ,  with  Thee, 
To  set  the  whole  world  free 

From  sin  and  pain  ! 
Sweet  words  of  life  we'll  speak  — 
Good  tidings  to  the  meek ; 
Thy  lost  ones  we  will  seek, 

And  break  each  chain  ! 

Uplift  for  every  soul, 
Redemption  for  the  whole 
At  home,  abroad ! 
155 


Gbe  <5ooD  SbcpberO 


For  this  we  women  pray, 
That  Christ's  triumphal  sway, 
May  bring  the  perfect  day  — 
The  day  of  God  ! 


THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD 

Tune — Koshak;  or  Portuguese  Hymn. 

fN  soft,  sunny  meadows  the  wand'ring  sheep 
stray ; 
Afar  from  the  Shepherd  each  goes  his  own 
way. 
Though  dangers  lurk  round  them,  no  watch  do 

they  keep  — 
"  The   Good  Shepherd  giveth   His  life  for  the 
sheep ! " 

On,  on,  they  still  wander,  till  morn,  clear  and 

bright, 
Grows  gray  with  the  storm-cloud,  swift  falls  the 

black  night ; 
Fierce  rains   beat  in  fury,  the  sharp  lightnings 

leap  — 
"  The  Good  Shepherd  giveth   His  life   for   the 

sheep  !  " 

Out,  over  the  mountains,  at  midnight,  alone, 
The  Good  Shepherd  goeth  to  gather  His  own. 

i56 


Gbe  Sbcep 

He  seeks  and  He  finds  them  on  crags  wild  and 

steep  — 
"The   Good   Shepherd  giveth  His  life  for  the 

sheep  ! " 

Deep  down  in  dark  pitfalls,  sore  wounded  by  sin, 

He  sees  where  they  suffer  and  die  in  their  pain. 

He  seeks  and  He  saves  them  where  death- 
shadows  creep  — 

"  The  Good  Shepherd  giveth  His  life  for  the 
sheep  !  " 

Unto  death  He  will  follow  each  child  of  His  love, 

Triumphant  will  bear  him  to  safety  above. 

No  waters   can  quench  it — His  love  strong  and 

deep  — 
"The   Good   Shepherd  giveth   His   life  for  the 

sheep ! " 


THE  SHEEP 

^^^HE  sheep  are  everywhere  !     Where'er  I  go 
^L,  I  see  them  feeding  in  the  meadows  low ; 
And  lambs  by  mothers'  side  are  safe  and 
warm, 
Or  they  are  borne  by  the  kind  Shepherd's  arm. 

But  other  sheep  I  see  on  parching  ground, 
Where  greenest  grasses  sweet  are  never  found; 
Where  flows  no  rivulet  under  shady  trees, 
Nor  Shepherd's  care  to  their  safe  folding  sees. 
157 


ffeeD  fl&£  Sbccp 

Lord,  what  of  these  ?     May  we  not  think  that 

Thou 
Dost  shepherd  these  whom  no  man  cares  for 

now? 
Yet  sounds  a  thrilling  word,  my  soul,  to  thee  — 
"  Whate'er  thou  doest  to  these,  thou  doest  to  Me." 


FEED  MY  SHEEP 

^^^HAT  was  a  narrow  street, 
tL,  Where  trod  Thy  blessed  feet ; 
And  that  a  noisy  throng 
That  followed  Thee  along, 
And  many  a  one  was  such 
We  scarce  would  deign  to  touch  — 
But   Thou  wast   pressed  upon  by  the  unfolded 

sheep, 
And  very  close  to  them  Thy  place  didst  keep. 
And  is  it  thus 
Thou  sayest  to  us, 
"  Oh,  if  ye  love  Me,  feed  My  sheep ! " 

That  was  a  toilsome  way, 
And  that  a  sultry  day, 
When  Thou  didst,  by  the  well, 
Of  living  water  tell, 
And  kindly  speak  to  one 
As  if  that  one  alone, 

158 


fecb  d&B  Sbcep 

The   straying  one,  of  all  the  world  had  need 

most  deep, 
And  Thou  no  thought  but  to  reclaim  Thy  sheep. 
And  is  it  thus 
Thou  sayest  to  us, 
"  Oh,  if  ye  love  Me,  feed  My  sheep  ! " 

That  was  a  loveless  word 
Which,  by  strange  spirit  stirred, 
Forbade  the  children  grace 
To  see  Thy  shining  face  — 
But  Thou  didst  call  them  near, 
And  smile  away  their  fear ; 
And  one  such  little  one  the  symbol  seemed  to 

Thee, 
Of  Thy  great  heavenly  kingdom  yet  to  be  ! 
And  is  it  thus 
Thou  sayest  to  us, 
"  Oh,  feed  My  lambs,  if  ye  love  Me  ! " 

That  was  a  green  hillside, 
By  Galilee's  soft  tide  ; 
And  sweet  the  garden's  shade 
By  ancient  olives  made. 
We  often  follow  there 
Thy  words  of  life  to  share. 
But  oh,  the  multitude  of  Thine  untended  sheep ! 
Speaks  there  a  voice  within  our  spirit's  deep, 
Thy  voice  to  us, 
And  speaks  it  thus, 
"  Oh,  if  ye  love  Me,  feed  My  sheep  ! " 
159 


Go  tbe  ffolo,  at  Evening  Glme 


TO  THE  FOLD,  AT  EVENING  TIME 


Z 


HV  Father- Love  is  over  all, 

From  dewy  dawn  to  evening's  fall ; 
And  when  the  twilight  dusk  is  come 
Thy  shepherd-hand  guides  safely  home. 
Then  with  each  care  soothed  into  rest 
We  slumber  on  Thy  gentle  breast. 


B 


BY  THE  SEA 

SABBATH  by  the  sea, 

In  far-off  Galilee ; 
In  the  old  days,  upon  its  shining 
beach, 
Such  waters  blue  were  there, 
Such  crystal,  sparkling  air, 
And  there  I  might  have  heard  the  Master  teach. 

How  sweet  His  words  would  fall, 
Here  by  this  old  sea-wall, 
'Mid  ancient  rocks  and  firs  and  spruces  hoar, 
Sea-grass  and  mosses  green ! 
As  then,  calm  and  serene, 
His  voice  would    sound    on    this  far  Northern 
shore. 

160 


Gbe  Walk  to  JSmmaus 

Surely  the  Christ  is  here, 

Speaking  in  accents  clear  ! 
His  flowing  robe,  His  sandalled  feet  are  yet, 

As  once  by  Galilee, 

By  this  lone  voiceful  sea, 
Here  teacheth  He,  as  by  Gennesareth. 

Surely  I  saw  Him  pass 

Across  the  bending  grass  ! 
His  blessing,  like  the  sea-air,  breathes  around. 

His  is  this  tide  of  light, 

This  crystal  ether  bright, 
His  voice  still  speaks  as  flowing  waters  sound. 

And  what  if  by  the  sea 

The  Kingdom's  mystery 
As  in  those  far-off  days  should  be  made  plain ! 

What  joy  if  here  the  Lord 

Should  speak  the  living  Word, 
And  break  the  living  bread  to  men  again ! 

Mt.  Desert,  Maine. 


THE  WALK  TO  EMMAUS 
A  Painting  in  the  National  Gallery,  London 

BFTER  Thy  rising  on  that  Golden  Day, 
Still  dost  Thou  condescend 
To  fare  as  Friend  with  friend, 
And  walk  with  men  along  their  evening  way 
161 


flo  Cloufc 

They  see  Thy  staff,  Thy  sandalled  feet  again, 
That  pilgrim  garb  of  Thine; 
And  from  Thy  face  divine 

Again  shines  Love  unspeakable  on  men. 

Clothed  as  of  old  in  Thy  familiar  guise, 
Still  Thou  dost  travel  on, 
Though  glory  is  withdrawn, 

Thy  risen  splendour  dimmed,  to  their  poor  eyes. 

How  eagerly  they  talk  with  Thee,  their  Friend  ! 

Their  hearts  within  them  burn ; 

Yet  they  are  sad  and  mourn ; 
They  know  Thee  not,  nor  do  they  comprehend. 

Lord,  when  Thou  drawest  near,  (O  blessed  lot !) 
To  us,  on  Life's  highway, — 
Let  not,  O  Lord,  we  pray, 

Our  eyes  be  holden,  that  we  see  Thee  not ! 


m 


NO  CLOUD 

O  cloud  between  us,  Lord ! 

Clear  breaks  the  dewy  morn ! 
Blue,  blue  the  sky,  and  fair ; 
And  glory  everywhere ! 
Upward  the  sun  is  borne 
Thrilling  the  lucid  air. 

No  cloud  between  us,  Lord  ! 
162 


Gbousbts  of  3-esue 


No  cloud  between  us,  Lord  ! 

So  crystal-pure,  above, 
Thy  breath  has  swept  the  mist 
Far  o'er  the  mountain's  crest ; 
And  all  the  air  holds  love 
In  palpitating  rest. 

No  cloud  between  us,  Lord ! 

No  cloud  between  us,  Lord  ! 

My  sky  is  spirit-clear. 
Splendour  and  peace  and  light, 
Serenest  rapture  bright, 
Drives  far  away  all  fear. 
The  Risen  One  is  here  ! 

No  cloud  between  us,  Lord  ! 


THOUGHTS  OF  JESUS 

"  When  I  awake  I  am  still  with  Thee. 

SWEET  as  the  wafture,  exquisite,  auroral, 
Breathing    from    Alpine   valleys   dewy 
deep, 
Blowing  from  meadows  far-away  and  floral, 
Come  thoughts  of  Jesus  as  I  wake  from  sleep. 

Radiant  as  light  on  glistening  snow-peaks  lying, 
Filling  ravines  where  age-old  glaciers  creep  ; 

Pure  as  the  pinions  of  bright  seraphs  flying, 
Come  thoughts  of  Jesus  as  I  wake  from  sleep. 

163 


Gbe  procession  of  tbe  Captive  Gbouflbts 

Living,  as  streams  that  down  great  mountains 
flowing 

Ring  out  with  joy  as  o'er  the  rocks  they  leap ; 
Swift  as  their  motion  towards  the  ocean  going, 

Come  thoughts  of  Jesus  as  I  wake  from  sleep. 

Tender  as  clouds  that  streak  the  holy  dawning 
When  rosy  mists  en  wreath  the  summits  steep 

Dreaming  on  high  and  ushering  in  the  morning, 
Come  thoughts  of  Jesus  as  I  wake  from  sleep. 


THE  PROCESSION  OF  THE  CAPTIVE 
THOUGHTS 

"  Bringing  into  captivity  every  thought  to  the  obedience  of 
Christ." 


ir 


F  all  our  thoughts,  in  silken  chains 
Walked  after  Christ  the  Lord, 
With  even  pace  clothed  on  with  grace. 

In  meek,  obedient  trains ; 

Then  as  the  Lord  went  up  His  way 
White-robed  with  eyes  of  flame, 
A  holy  throng  would  press  along 

To  swell  this  glad  array. 

Brightest  of  all  processions  these, 
They  wend  unseen  on  earth  ! 
But  angel  eyes  from  Paradise 

Note  their  white  track  of  peace. 
164 


Gbe  Xove  ot  Gbrfst 


THE  LOVE  OF  CHRIST 

"  The    breadth,  the   length   and  the  depth  and  the  height 
.     .     of  the  love  of  Christ." — Eph.  3  :  19. 


f 


TS  breadth  is  boundless  as  the  scope 

Of  the  wild  heart  of  man. 
Wide  as  the  vast,  immortal  hope 
Its  universal  span. 


Its  length  is  ageless,  as  the  years 
That  measure  beyond  time. 

Before  the  birth  of  stars  and  spheres, 
Began  its  course  sublime. 

Its  depth  abysmal  is — as  deep 
As  sin,  and  grief  and  shame; 

Below  the  death-gulf,  rolls  the  sweep 
Of  one  life-giving  Name. 

Its  height  is  wondrous  !     Far  above 
It  looms,  beyond  our  sight, 

Up  to  the  very  throne  of  Love  — 
Merged  in  the  Godhead's  light. 


XL 


JESUS'  THOUGHTS 

HINK  thy  Saviour's  thoughts  again ! 
Thoughts  of  love  to  God  and  men. 
Breathe  their  air  serene  and  free 
Vital  with  God's  love  to  thee ! 

165 


Dave  ffattb  tn  <3ofc 

Wondrous  thoughts  of  wondrous  love 
Such  as  rules  in  realms  above, 
Fill  the  heart  of  him  who  lives 
In  the  thoughts  that  Jesus  gives. 


t> 


HAVE  FAITH  IN  GOD 

AVE  faith  in  God !     Thy  joy  shall  rise 
Beyond  the  height  of  bluest  skies. 
Have  faith  in  God  !    Thy  peace  shall  flow 
A  brimming  river,  deep  and  slow. 


Have  faith  in  God  !     Thy  cheer  shall  raise 
In  many  a  heart  a  hymn  of  praise. 
Have  faith  in  God !     Then  filled  with  power 
Thou'lt  work  for  God  from  hour  to  hour. 

Have  faith  in  God !     Thy  prayers  for  men 
Shall  showers  of  blessing  bring  again. 
Have  faith  in  God !     Then  Love  Divine, 
God's  gracious  Love,  shall  through  thee  shine ! 


3 


THE  UNCREATED  LIGHT 

ESUS,  Thou  radiant  King  of  Kings, 
I  may  not  see  Thy  unveiled  Face, 
But  through  all  films  of  earthly  things 
I  feel  the  ardours  of  Thy  grace. 
1 66 


H  Sabbatb  prater 

Rays  of  Thy  glory  sometimes  rise 
Upon  my  pathway  like  the  sun  ; 

Then  all  my  way  transfigured  lies 

By  sudden  splendours  from  Thy  throne. 

And  not  alone  my  outward  way 
Is  glorified  by  light  from  Thee ; 

Thy  Spirit  with  its  unseen  ray 
Fills  all  my  soul  with  ecstasy. 

Through  the  dark  shades  of  circumstance 
My  life-path  lies,  a  track  most  bright ; 

Life  is  a  straight  and  shining  glance 

Sent  down  to  me  from  Thy  pure  Light. 


© 


A  SABBATH  PRAYER 

GOD,  Thou  hast  a  wondrous  way 
Into  each  heart  and  mind  ! 

To  every  human  soul,  to-day, 
Thy  hidden  inlet  find  ! 


Thine,  Spirit,  is  the  task  divine 

To  send  a  saving  light 
Into  dark  hearts,  and  make  them  shine, 

And  give  them  inward  sight. 

Let  Thy  mysterious,  inward  plea 
Smite  on  men's  hearts  like  fire. 

Trophies  to-day  we  claim  from  Thee  — 
The  souls  of  men,  for  hire. 
167 


Cbriat  in  THs 


In  little  children's  innocence 
Find  for  Thyself  a  place. 

There  beam  with  gentlest  radiance,- 
Childlike,  immortal  grace. 

The  blind,  the  broken-hearted  call, 
The  weak,  the  helpless  slave ; 

With  voice  resistless  speak  to  all, 
Thou  Who  art  strong  to  save  ! 


C 


CHRIST  IN  US 

HRIST  in  us  "  our  only  goodness, 

"  Christ  in  us  "  our  only  plea  ! 
He,  our  hope,  is  all  our  glory, 
Saving  One,  who  died  for  me ! 


Pure,  free  Gift  of  God  to  Sinners, 
Trust  I  now  myself  to  Thee ; 

This  my  righteousness  before  Thee  : — 
Thou  dost  work  my  works  in  me. 

I  have  nothing; — Thou  must  give  me 
All  my  deepest  want  can  plead. 

From  Thy  hidden  heaven  within  me 
O  fulfill  my  inmost  need. 
1 68 


JBebolD,  CbB  fang  Cometb 


BEHOLD,  THY  KING  COMETH 


K 


EAR  ye  the  footfall  of  the  King, 

Ye  who  have  listened  long  ? 
Comes  He  at  last,  and  will  He  bring 
The  end  of  wrong  ? 


They  muster — all  His  hosts  of  light, 

Beyond  the  farthest  star  ! 
With  Him  they  come  to  scatter  night 
By  holy  war. 

Though  few  and  far  and  faint  the  signs 

Dawn-tints  are  in  the  sky ! 
And  many  a  waiting  heart  divines 
Our  King  draws  nigh ! 

For  oft  strange  glory  gleams  and  glows 

And  gilds  each  earthly  thing ! 
His  onward  footfall  splendour  throws 
Before  the  King  ! 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  SONG 


ir 


WOULD  ask  that  angels  high 
Utter  for  me  praise  to  God ! 

Pure  their  hallelujah-cry  — 
Honour,  glory,  blessing,  laud  ! 
169 


Gbe  Christian's  Song 

I  can  sound  aloud  no  lay, 

For  my  mortal  strength  is  small ; 

I,  so  feeble,  faint,  to-day 

Scarce  can  name  the  All-in-All. 

But  the  seraphs,  ever  strong, 
Night  and  day  untiring  sweep 

All  the  chords  of  that  great  song, 
High  as  heaven,  deep  as  the  Deep 

So  for  me  the  angel  choir 

Worships  God  upon  the  throne ; 

Cherubs  with  their  hearts  of  fire, 
Praise  the  Father,  Spirit,  Son  ! 

Yet  one  note,  no  angel  chants ! 

Sing  I  this,  though  last  it  be, 
And  while  mortal  weakness  faints : 

*'  Jesus,  Jesus  died  for  me ! " 


170 


Zhe  Xorb's  £>as 
Ube  Cbrtstian  ^eat 
Cbtlbboob  anfc  <3bilbren 
Bncjete 


"THEREFORE  WITH   ANGELS  AND 

ARCHANGELS   AND   WITH   ALL 

THE  COMPANY  OF  HEAVEN" 

BNGELS  who  have  never  sinned 
View  my  Risen  Saviour's  face, 
Searching  the  unsearchable ! 
In  His  lineaments  they  trace 
One  like  to  the  Son  of  Man 

Shining  in  the  Godhead's  grace. 


Seraph  brows  are  brightly  bent 
To  adore  this  mystery, 

And  their  sinless  spirits  blanch 
As  they  think  upon  the  tree 

Where  the  holy  Son  of  God 
Once  bore  man's  infirmity. 


But  the  white-robed  standing  there, 
Where  the  cherub-carols  ring, — 

They  who  bear  the  harp  and  palm 
And  the  new  song  sweetly  sing, — 

They  in  part  can  understand 
The  great  mystery  of  the  King ! 
173 


©ur.  Xorfc'e  Dage 

At  the  cross  it  smote  them  first, — 
That  large  love-light  in  His  eyes. 

There  they  saw  His  visage  marred 
In  their  human  nature's  guise ; 

There  they  saw  His  life  of  love 
Given  for  them  in  sacrifice. 

In  the  hand-clasp  on  the  cross 
They  His  deity  have  known. 

Him  who  washed  them  in  His  blood, 
Now  with  many  a  crown  they  crown  ! 

One  with  Him  as  Son  of  Man, 
One  with  Him  upon  the  throne ! 

Saints  who  read  the  Saviour's  heart, 
Seraphs  with  the  deep-wrought  gaze, 

Even  now  Christ's  glory  bursts 
Over  all  our  earth-born  ways ! 

Soon  with  you,  where  Jesus  reigns, 
Alleluias  we  shall  raise  ! 


OUR  LORD'S  DAYS 

"And  in  the  garden  a  new  sepulchre." — John  ig: 41. 

♦JfW  OW  can  we  ever  mar 

J       With  earthly  fret  and  jar 

Our  Sabbath  days,  when  we  re- 
member what  they  are  ? 
God's  days  in  mercy  given, 
A  foretaste  pure  of  heaven, 
Of  all  the  busy  seven  the  crown  and  morning  star. 
174 


©ut  XorO's  Dag6 

Let  us  forever  cease 
To  spoil  their  heavenly  peace. 
Let   resurrection   light   through   all  their  hours 
increase. 

Let  light  from  Jesus'  tomb 
Our  holy  day  illume. 
Rise  we  with  Him  from  gloom,  and  find  a  sweet 
release. 


Death  could  not  hold  Him  prone. 
From  His  cold  couch  of  stone 
The  Victor  rose,  whose  might  life,  death  and  hell 
should  own. 

There  in  a  garden  bright 
He  stood,  the  world's  true  light. 
Earth  rolled  from  deepest  night,  and  with  new 
glory  shone. 

Sweet  with  all  scents  of  balm, 

Shaded  with  trees  of  palm, 
The  dewy  garden  lay  in  holy  hush  and  calm. 

Far  streamed  the  golden  ray, 

Clear  dawned  the  first  Lord's  day ; 
Owning  her  Master's  sway,  earth  lifts  a  choral 
psalm. 

For  us  each  Lord's  day  fair 
May  rise  with  dawn  as  rare, 
And  find  us  in  a  garden  sweet  with  early  prayer. 
175 


Sabbatb  Surprises 

The  risen  One  is  near, 
Faith's  loving  eyes  will  clear. 
"Mary!"    "  My  Master  !  "    Hear!    Peace  fills  the 
Sabbath  air. 


SABBATH  SURPRISES 

SOMETIMES  the  holy  dawn  is  dim, 
The  week-day  mists  still  gather  close ; 
There  is  no  voice  or  heavenly  hymn, 
No  vision, — only  deep  repose. 
Till,  swift,  while  all  about  is  haze, — 

The  silence  of  a  soul  withdrawn, — 
From  the  dull  cloud-sphere,  words  of  praise 
Issue  like  songs  of  birds  at  dawn. 

Then  strangely  bright,  serenely  clear, 

Without  a  warning,  breaks  full  day. 
How  rise  the  clouds  from  far  and  near, 

How  lift  the  mists  and  flee  away ! 
Voices  and  visions  fill  the  air ; 

Voices  that  speak  of  life  and  light, 
Visions  that  show  how  everywhere 

An  unseen  Kingdom  grows  in  might! 

The  vision  of  my  Lord  I  see, 

Walking  through  all  this  world  again. 
Again  in  gracious  ministry, 

He  heals  disease  and  comforts  pain. 
176 


Sabbatb  Surprises 

Again  His  loving  hands  He  lays 
On  little  ones  through  all  the  earth. 

How  sweet  their  high  outburst  of  praise, 
Glad  praise  for  Jesus'  blessed  birth ! 

Sometimes  the  verses  of  the  Book 

Seem  written  on  the  sky's  deep  blue. 
Whether  I  listen  or  I  look, 

The  world-old  things  have  been  made  new ! 
Or  glows  the  heavenly  City  bright, 

Built  on  its  firm  foundation  strong ; 
And  from  the  seraphs  winged  with  light 

Triumphant  breaks  the  eternal  song  ! 

Then  grander  visions  fill  my  soul, 

Sublimest  pledges  of  the  Word, 
When  not  a  part,  but  when  the  whole 

Shall  bow  to  Christ  as  sovereign  Lord ! 
The  kingdoms  of  this  world  become 

The  Kingdoms  of  the  Holy  One  ; 
A  homeless  world  at  last  brought  home 

To  share  His  Heaven  with  Christ  the  Son. 


177 


Cbe  Xorfc's  Bag 


1R 


THE  LORD'S  DAY 

EST,  worship,  service  !     Rest  divine 
O'erflows  and  floods  this  day  of  Thine. 
I  trust  Thy  finished  work  alone, 
And  rest  in  what  my  Lord  has  done. 


Worship,  rest,  service  !     Worship  high 
Is  Thine,  to  Whom  the  angels  cry. 
With  burning  seraphs  I  will  sing 
Thy  glory  only,  God,  my  King. 

Service,  rest,  worship  !     Service  sweet 
I  would  lay,  Master,  at  Thy  feet; 
In  lowly  ministry  to  men 
Would  tread  Thy  holy  steps  again. 

Rest,  worship,  service  !     Saints  in  light, 
Rest,  worship,  serve  with  ardour  bright. 
Our  holy  day,  our  Lord's  Day  blest, 
Be  bright  with  worship,  service,  rest ! 


i78 


3first*5)afi  on  tbe  dBountains 


FIRST-DAY  ON  THE  MOUNTAINS 


Z 


O-DAY,  upon    the    calm  that  all  these 
mountains  fills, 
Descends  a  deeper  calm  from  the  Eternal 
Hills. 


To-day,  beside  the  peace  abiding  in  the  vales, 
Floats  down  a  purer  peace  on  heavenly,  soft- 
winged  gales. 

This  First-day  light,  distilled  from  finest  ray, 
Breaks  through,  a  sevenfold  light,  a  glimpse  of 
upper  day. 

To-day,  with  harmonies  from  wind-swept  trees 

that  rise, 
Blend  holy,  three  times  holy  songs  from  Paradise. 

The   deep   repose   of  love   dwells   ever   on  the 

height ; 
A  rarer  rest  of  love  dawns  with  this  First-day 

light. 

This  fair  First-day  falls  earthward  purely  from 

above, 
Thence  is  its  calm,  its  peace,  its  light,  its  song, 

its  love. 

At  Lake  Mohonk,  N.  Y. 

179 


Zbe  Gbrtet*GbUo's  Coming 

THE  CHRIST-CHILD'S  COMING 

*Y1*jff^l  HAT  dost  Thou  here,  sweet,  wonder- 
^j^^         ing  stranger, 

Far  strayed  from   Heaven's  white 
purity  and  joy  ? 
Dark  is  the  world,  and  full  for  Thee  of  danger ; 
How  earnest  Thou  here,  O  human-heavenly 
boy? 

Thou  Who  wast  wont  to  look  on  seraph  faces, 
And  music  of  ethereal  lyres  to  hear, 

How  couldst  Thou  leave  Thy  happy,  holy  places 
To  live  with  men  of  sorrow,  sin  and  fear  ? 

O  little  child,  undreaming  of  Thy  danger, 
I  do  mistrust  that  they  will  kill  Thee  soon ! 

The  sword  of  Herod  flashes  o'er  the  manger 
Where  lies  the  sure  successor  to  his  crown. 

Yet  sleep  on  now,  Blest  Babe,  unharmed  ; 

Let  angel  songs  soft  cadenced  through  the  night 
Drift  through  Thy  dream-world,  pure  and  un- 
alarmed, — 

Thy  coming  folds  all  hearts  in  love  and  light ! 

For  all  of  Heaven,  its  glory  shining  tender, 
Thou  hast  brought  with  Thee,  Christ-Child,  to 
the  earth. 
On  human  spirits  falls  a  godlike  splendour, 
Th'  immortal  radiance  of  Thy  mortal  birth. 
1 80 


Cbrtetmas  D^mn 


© 


CHRISTMAS  HYMN 

For  the  Little  Ones. 

NCE  a  star  the  wise  men  led 

To  the  Lord  of  glory ; 
Once  to  shepherds  angels  sang 
Such  a  sweet,  sweet  story. 


In  the  dark,  still  night  they  came 

To  the  shepherds  lowly, 
But  they  brought  a  splendour  bright 

From  their  home  most  holy. 

One  fair  angel  sang  alone, 

Softly  downward  flying : 
"  Fear  not,  shepherds,  Christ  your  Lord 

Born  on  earth,  is  lying 

"  In  a  manger,  gently  laid, 

Ye  shall  find  Him  yonder." 
Then  a  multitude  with  him 

Sang  this  song  of  wonder : 

"  Glory  be  to  God  on  high, 

Far  above  in  heaven  ; 
Peace  on  earth  to  men  of  peace 

Down  below  be  given  !  " 


181 


"O  TKHonDrous  taiflbt! " 

Then  the  song  drew  back  to  heaven, 

And  a  hush  is  falling ; 
Yet  the  shepherds  through  the  night 

Hear  it  faintly  calling. 

We  can  hear  the  same  sweet  song, 

Sweetest  song  and  story  : 
"  Christ  is  born  !     Your  Lord  is  come  ! 

Glory,  ever  glory !  " 


© 


"O  WONDROUS  NIGHT!" 

WONDROUS  night  of  light  and  joy  and 
singing ! 
Songs  of  the  angels  floating  from  above, 
Far  up  on  high  and  down  below  are  ringing 
Deep  peals  of  joy,  and  softest  chimes  of  love. 

O  wondrous  night  of  light  and  joy  and  singing  ! 

Light  nevermore  to  darken  or  decrease, 
Light  of  the  world,  to  men  forever  bringing 

In  thy  soft  wings  sweet  healing  and  true  peace. 

O  wondrous  night  of  light  and  joy  and  singing ! 

No  joy  like  thine  had  ever  bloomed  on  earth. 
Joy  most  like  that  in  happy  hearts  upspringing, 

When  Christ  the  Lord  within  the  soul  has  birth. 
182 


Cbrtstmas 

O  wondrous  night  of  light  and  joy  and  singing! 
Blest  night,  swift   brightening  to  an  endless 
morn, 
Heaven's  dawn  on  earth!     O  join  the  angelic 
hymning, — 
Glad  praise  that  "  unto  us  a  Child  is  born." 


H 


CHRISTMAS 

NGELS  of  light  and  seraphim  of  splendour, 
Flaming  with  love,  adore   God's   holy 
name. 
They,  they  alone  are  pure  enough  to  render 
Praise  unto  Him  and  jubilant  acclaim. 


Yet,  hark  !  amid  cherubic  adoration, 

Songs  of  the  countless  ones  arrayed  in  white ! 
Lo,  these  have  come  from  earthly  tribulation ; 

Praising  the  Lamb,  they  rest  not  day  or  night. 

See,  ranging  'mid  the  bands  of  burning  spirits 
Myriads  of  children  of  our  lowly  race, 

Bearing  a  likeness  fair  which  each  inherits 

From  Him  who  brought  them  to  this  holy  place. 

Down  through  bright  angel  ranks  this  Christmas 
morning, 

God's  smile  is  shining  on  each  child  of  earth ; 
With  heavenly  grace  each  human  babe  adorning, 

For  on  this  morn  His  Son — a  babe — had  birth. 

183 


ffrancia'6  picture  ot  rt&afconna  ano  GbiU) 

FRANCIA'S  PICTURE  OF  MADONNA 
AND  CHILD 

MOW  kindly,  Thou,  dear  lovely  Jesus-Child, 
While  by  Thy  Mother's  arms  Thou  art 
caressed, 
Dost  soothe,  in  gentle  hands,  the  beatings  wild 
Of  one  faint  bird,  up-gathered  to  Thy  breast! 

Divine  and  human  love  Thy  face  reveals  — 
A  power  to  succour,  not  the  growth  of  years, — 

A  sympathy  which  earthly  suffering  heals 
As  by  a  thrill  from  higher,  heavenly  spheres  ! 

Perhaps  the  heart-beats  of  the  quivering  bird 
Touched  Thee  as  when  a  frightened  child  low 
calls ; 

And  e'en  Thy  baby  lips  formed  the  sweet  word, 
"  Without  My  Father,  not  a  sparrow  falls !  " 


MADONNA  AND  CHILD  WITH  JOHN 
THE  BAPTIST 


B 


GAIN  Thou  sittest  on  Thy  Mother's  knee 
While  the  deep  heart  of  infancy  serene 
Shines  outward  in  sweet  childish  gaiety, 
And  fills  with  heavenly  light  the  earthly 
scene. 

184 


XullabB 

The  baby-herald  of  Thy  coming  grace 

Upholds  the  Cross,  the  symbol  of  Thy  doom, 

Yet  unsearched  awe  and  worship  in  his  face 
Foretell    Thy    triumph    o'er    the    conquered 
tomb. 

To  him,  a  flower  Thy  artless  fingers  reach, 
(Thyself  a  dewy  blossom,  heaven-revealed,) 

As  though  Thy  flower-like  lips  sweet  trust  would 
teach, 
"  Considering,  so,  the  lilies  of  the  field." 

Munich  Gallery,  October,  i8g8. 


LULLABY 

♦gT  N  thy  cradle-boat  so  gently, 
I J         Gently  rock,  in  mother's  arms. 
Sleep,  my  baby,  rest  securely, 
Here  where  nothing  ever  harms. 
Dewy  sleep  press  down  thine  eyelids  ! 

Guardian  angels  near  thee  stand  ! 
While  their  sweet  songs  lull  thee,  drifting 
Far  away  to  slumber-land. 

In  that  lovely  land  of  flowers 
Birds  are  singing  all  the  day, 

And  the  lambs  in  grassy  meadows 
Frolic  in  their  pretty  play. 

185 


"Wlbere's  fl&otber?" 

Rippling  streams  and  murmuring  fountains, 

Butterflies,  a  shining  band, 
Bee  and  blossom,  dew  and  sunshine 

Greet  thee  in  sweet  slumber-land. 

Maybe  there  thou'lt  meet  the  Christ-Child, 

Like  a  gentle  shepherd  boy, 
Calling  to  His  lambs  to  follow 

Freshest  pastures  to  enjoy. 
Thou  shalt  know  Him  by  the  love-light 

In  His  eyes,  when  by  the  hand, 
He  shall  bring  thee  back  to  mother, 

All  the  way  from  slumber-land. 


"WHERE'S  MOTHER?" 

u€Y\*/ft  HERE'S    mother?"     This    is    the 
^J^%,         ringing  call, 

When  boyish  sports  for  the  day 
are  done. 
"  Where's  mother  ?  "  shout  my  merry  men  all, 
As  they  troop  through  the  door  at  set  of  sun. 

They  have  hardly  thought  of  mother  all  day 
In  the  glorious  games  with  the  "  other  boys." 

But  "  Mother,  where's  mother  ?  "  'tis  all  they  say 
As  they  fill  the  house  with  their  cheerful  noise. 
1 86 


palm  SunDag 

"  Where's  mother?"     "  She's  here  !    Hurrah,  'tis 
all  right !  " — 

Her  presence  is  love,  protection  and  rest. 
The  sweet  home-sense  gathers  round  as  the  light 

Fades  over  the  valley  and  out  of  the  west. 

Mother,  your  boys  will  not  always  be  boys ; 

But  they'll  always  look  for  your  loving  smile. 
They'll  come  back  and  listen  for  mother's  voice, 

Though  the  world  may  claim  them  a  weary 
while. 

If  you  have  shown  what  a  mother  can  be, 
If  your  love  symbols  things  loving  and  true, 

Your  boys  will  come  back  to  the  old  roof-tree, — 
The  old  love  will  hold  them  !     They'll  come 
back  to  you ! 


P 


PALM  SUNDAY 

ALMS  are  for  peace  and  praise! 
For  holy,  festal  days, 
For  triumphs  high  ! 
To-day,  we  hail  our  King, 
For  Him  fair  palms  we  bring, 
To  Him  hosannas  sing, 
And  glory  cry ! 

187 


Qoob  jfridag 


Palms  are  for  ransomed  souls, 
Round  whom  the  radiance  rolls, 

And  endless  calm  ! 
To-day, — with  saints  in  light, 
Clad  in  pure  linen  white, 
Above  in  ether  bright, — 

We  wave  the  palm. 

Palms  are  for  us  of  earth, 
Who  own  a  heavenly  birth 

And  sin's  true  balm. 
To-day,  forgetting  wrong, 
In  alleluia-song, 
We  join  th'  adoring  throng 

That  bear  the  palm  ! 


GOOD  FRIDAY 

♦IfWE  looked  on  men  in  their  unpitied  pain; 
1     Beside  the  way,  He  marked  the  fainting 
fall ; 
And  sin  on  many  a  face  was  written  plain ; 
And  Death  his  dusky  wing  waved  over  all. 

He  saw  there  was  no  helper,  and  He  sought 
Some  intercessor,  but  beheld  none  nigh ; 

Then  His  own  arm  His  great  salvation  brought! 
He  felt  men's  agony,  He  heard  their  cry ! 
1 88 


Hscension  £>a£ 

Their  sicknesses  upon  Himself  He  took  ; 

Their   ceaseless    tears    His    own   hand   wiped 
away ; 
He  blessed  the  little  children  with  His  look ; 

And  Death  himself  He  had  the  power  to  slay. 

Below  our  sickness,  tears  and  death,  He  knew 
Man's   dread  estrangement  from  His  Father, 
God, 
Sin's  deadly  chasm,  deep  beyond  our  view, 

He  bridged,  and  made   Himself  to   God  our 
road. 

His  great  heart  burst !     Such  pity  and  such  love 
His  mortal  form  no  longer  could  contain! 

His  life  He  gave  upon  the  cross,  to  prove 
How  God's  love  woos  us  to  His  arms  again  ! 


Z 


ASCENSION  DAY 

HY  sufferings  ended,  Risen  Lord, 
Ascend  Thy  Father's  throne ; 
Assume,  O  Man  of  Nazareth, 
Thy  royal  robe  and  crown  ! 


Thy  face  once  marred,  now  like  the  sun 
Glows  with  the  Godhead's  might ; 

The  seamless  robe  of  Deity 
Wraps  Thee  in  dazzling  light. 
189 


Gbe  IResurrectton  dfcessafie 

The  winepress  trodden,  enter  Thou 
Through  heaven's  eternal  arch ; 

Earth's  ransomed  millions  follow  Thee 
In  Thy  triumphal  march. 

In  lines  of  light  the  endless  train 
Fill  heaven,  and  chant  and  sing : 

O  Man  of  Sorrows,  it  is  Thou 
Who  now  art  glory's  King  ! 


THE  RESURRECTION  MESSAGE 

John  21 

(Tune — Diademata,  by  G.  I.  Elvey;  or  any  short  metre  tune.) 

fT  is  the  risen  Lord  ! 
He  stands  beside  the  sea, 
Where  low  the  rippling  waves  are  heard, 
By  dawn-lit  Galilee. 
His  brow  is  like  a  star ; 
In  majesty  more  bright 
Than  morning's  glory,  flashing  far, 
His  is  the  Godhead's  light ! 

Jesus  !     It  is  the  Lord  ! 

His  voice  floats  o'er  the  tide. 
"  Cast  ye  the  net  " — it  is  His  word  — 
"  Upon  the  hither  side  !  " 
Since  He  commands,  His  power 
Will  fill  the  nets  we  draw. 
His  resurrection-word,  this  hour, 
In  heaven  and  earth  is  law ! 
190 


Gbe  "KaDtant  Gert 

Deathless  forevermore, 
He  stands  beside  life's  sea, 
And  to  each  one  He  saith  thrice  o'er, 
M  Disciple,  lov'st  thou  Me  ? 
Then  feed  My  lambs  most  dear, 
And  feed  My  sheep,"  saith  He. 
To-day  His  word  of  power  rings  clear 
As  once  on  Galilee. 


THE  RADIANT  TEXT 

"  And  Jesus,  perceiving  the  thought  of  their  heart,  took  a 
child,  and  set  him  by  Him,  and  said  unto  them,  Whosoever 
shall  receive  this  child  in  My  name  receiveth  Me ;  and  who- 
soever shall  receive  Me,  receiveth  Him  that  sent  Me :  for  he 
that  is  least  among  you  all,  the  same  shall  be  great." — Luke 
g :  47-48. 


© 


LITTLE  child  that  Jesus  took 
And  gently  set  thee  by  His  side, 

What  was  thy  name?    Sweet  was  thy  look, 
Bright  as  the  dawn  and  dewy-eyed. 

Would  we  could  see  thee  sitting  there, 
Clear,  radiant  text — the  Teacher's  choice. 

Our  pride  and  self  would  disappear, 
The  while  we  heard  the  Master's  voice. 

"  To  be  the  greatest,"  should  we  deem 
The  noblest  aim,  the  highest  lot? 

How  all  unworthy  it  would  seem, 

Knowing  the  Lord  perceived  our  thought ! 
191 


Gbe  Cbilfc  b£  Seeue'  SiDc 

Short  is  the  three-linked  chain  to  God  — 
One  little  child — the  Christ— then  He 

Who  sent  the  Christ.     O  starry  road ! 
Dear  child,  we  in  His  name,  take  thee, 

# And  learn  "  the  least  the  great  shall  be." 
Thou  radiant  comment  on  the  Word, 
Who  would  not  gladly  sit  with  thee, 
O  happy  child,  beside  the  Lord  ! 


THE  CHILD  BY  JESUS'  SIDE 

Luke  9 :  47 


ma 


ERT  thou  at  play,  in  eager  glee 
With  merry  groups  in  sport  and 
chase, 

Or  had  His  eyes  serene  drawn  thee 
Apart,  to  watch  the  Master's  face? 


What  time  He  took  thee,  little  lad, 
Marking  thy  artless,  trustful  gaze, 

And  by  His  side  set  thee,  half-glad, 
Half-awed  by  such  kind,  loving  ways. 

O,  little  child,  the  Syrian  skies 

Were  filled  with  light,  and  deep  their  blue 
That  day,  when  men  in  mute  surprise 

First  heard  the  heavenly  teaching  new. 
192 


dbotber  and  Cbtld  in  a  IRatlwBg  Car,  Scotland 

And  light  fell  on  thy  simple  state, 

Thou  sweetest  text  for  Jesus'  thought ! 

"  He  who  is  least,  shall  be  the  great," 
For  in  His  kingdom,  pride  is  naught. 

Dark  were  thy  curls;  thy  cheeks  soft-bloomed 
With  Orient  tints,  olive  and  red ; 

A  dewy  infant-glow  illumed 
Thy  innocent  and  lowly  head. 

Beside  Himself  Christ  gave  thee  place, 
He  loved  thy  humble,  childlike  air. 

He  made  thee  type  of  that  sweet  grace 
He  would  have  all  His  children  wear. 


MOTHER  AND  CHILD  IN  A  RAILWAY 
CAR,  SCOTLAND 


% 


ARGE,  toil-worn,  travel-stained,  the  hand 
Laid  on  the  baby's  rose-pale  cheek ; 
The  mother's  hand,  wind-  and  sun-tanned, 
What  mother-love  it  seemed  to  speak  ! 


So  soft  on  flaxen,  fine-spun  hair 
It  lay,  and  curling  lashes  brown, 

On  lids,  as  palest  pansies  fair, 

Or  daisies  that  fresh  dew-drops  drown. 
193 


4  Gbeir  Bnaels" 

And  so  such  coarse  and  finer  guise 
Might  prove  the  two  were  not  akin ; 

But  exquisite,  to  angels'  eyes, 

The  mother-heart  hid  deep  within ! 

The  likeness  showed  between  these  two ! 

The  mother-spirit,  full  of  grace, 
Proved  subtle  kinship,  pure  and  true, 

With  the  sweet  baby's  flower-like  face. 


"THEIR  ANGELS" 
♦flT  N  that  "  Great  City  "  which  God's  presence 

:       lights, 

Amid  the  shining  throngs  of  spirits  blest, 
There  are  three  angels,  strong  and  very  fair, 
Who  stand  apart,  to  me,  from  all  the  rest. 

One  of  the  three  is  tall,  with  courage  bright, 
And  one  has  starry  eyes  and  low  voice  sweet, 

And  one  bears  fragrant  flowers  and  smiles,  and 
all 
Make  melody  for  that  high  place  most  meet. 

I  do  not  know  their  names.     But,  should  I  pass 
Into  that  wondrous  land  of  light  and  song, 

I  know  that  I  should  surely  find  them  out, 

And  quickly  should  I  stand  my  group  among. 
194 


"Gbeir  Bngete" 

I  should  not  dare  on  Michael  great  to  look, 
That   mighty    Prince   who    for    God's    people 
stands, 

Nor  on  that  other,  Gabriel,  peerless  one, 
Who  bears  the  holy  lilies  in  his  hands. 

Nor  on  the  bending  ranks  of  seraphim, 
Veiled  each  in  sixfold  wings  of  azure  dye 

While  ceaseless  adoration  through  them  breathes, 
Should  I  dare  turn  my  glory-dazzled  eye ; 

Nor  on  cherubic  circles,  closest  pressed 

About  the  throne,  whose  hearts  and  wings  of  fire 

Throb  ceaselessly  with  love  unquenchable, 
With  burning  purity  and  deep  desire. 

But  these,  my  little  children's  angels  are ; 

I  should  not  fear  their  half-familiar  grace. 
These  angels  three — their  angels — evermore 

Behold  the  vision  of  our  Father's  face. 

Enough  for  us  and  them  !    They  downward  bend 
Towards    the  dear  children  in  their  childish 
ways; 

They  upward  look,  and  all  their  being  burns 
With  rapture,  as  on  God  they  turn  their  gaze. 

On  God  !     The  sweet  reflection  of  His  love 

Falls  from  their  faces  on  our  earthly  home : 
Our  Saviour's  little  ones,  and  ours,  they  guard; 
And  where  God's  angels  watch,  no  harm  can 
come. 
1882. 

195 


"Reflected  Xtgbt 

REFLECTED  LIGHT 


XL 


HEIR  angels  beholding  the  Father 
Look  ever  upon  His  Face. 
And  so  the  beautiful  children 
Are  touched  with  ineffable  grace, 
For  they  shine  with  a  glory  reflected 
From  the  high  and  holy  place. 

As  we  teach,  we  may  touch  the  children 
With  a  heavenly  beam  of  light ; 

If  we  always  behold  the  Father 
And  live  ever  in  His  sight, 

We,  too,  may  reflect  His  glory 
And  illumine  their  faces  bright. 


TO  "A  YOUTH  CONDUCTED  BY  THE 
ANGEL  RAPHAEL" 

By  Perugino — in  the  National  Gallery,  London 


B 


N  angel  stands  beside  thee  in  the  way, 
Or  walking,  times  his  steps  with  thine. 

Thy    hand     he    gently    holds    (lest   thou 
shouldst  stray) 
With  cordial  clasp  divine. 


His  large,  soft  wings  seem  just  about  to  fold 
Around  thy  youthful  form.     His  eyes 

Serene,  with  downward,  holy  gaze,  behold 
Thy  face,  turned,  questioning-wise. 
196 


n  TMUsb  ffor  a  Xittlc  dfcaifc 

Behind  thee  lie  cool  depths  of  morning  sky, 
(How  soon  will  burn  the  torrid  noon  !) 

While,  all  too  eager  newer  paths  to  try, 
Forward  he  leads  thee  on. 

So  now  thy  heart  may  feel  sweet  peace  and  rest 
Since  God's  great  angel  goes  with  thee ; 

He  to  the  end  will  aid  thee  in  thy  quest 
And  bear  thee  company. 

His  heavenly  strength  to  thee  he  will  impart 

His  aureoled  glory  falls  around 
Thee,  and  thine  untried  pathway,  and  thy  heart 

With  his  great  love  is  crowned. 


A  WISH  FOR  A  LITTLE  MAID 

♦ft*  INDLY  Nature,  take  this  child, 

11^  Train  her  in  thy  forests  wild! 

Lead  her  by  thy  laughing  brooks, 
Till  their  joy  laughs  in  her  looks. 
Make  her  lithe  in  form  and  mien, 
As  the  white  birch,  draped  in  green. 

Let  her  voice  as  mellow  grow, 
As  the  thrush-song's  silvery  flow, 
Filling  all  this  leafy  wood 
With  sweet  prophecies  of  good. 
Let  each  breeze  a  message  bear, 
Of  an  unseen  love  and  care. 
197 


d&E  (Bfrl 

Bring  her  from  thy  fountains  bright, 
Draughts  of  crystal,  living  light. 
Feed  her,  lowly  tho  her  guise, 
With  thy  strength  to  make  her  wise. 
Let  her  sacred  maidenhood 
Grow  in  sweetest  solitude. 

Let  the  fragrance  of  all  flowers 
And  the  hush  of  twilight  hours, 
Let  the  glowing  sky's  deep  blue 
And  the  rainbow's  varied  hue 
Fill  her  soul  with  loveliest  grace 
And  shine  outward  in  her  face. 

Tenderly  to  her  impart, 
O  great  Nature,  all  thy  heart ! 
Teach  her  much  of  Love,  so  she 
Thine  interpreter  may  be, 
A  reflection,  clear  and  fine, 
Of  thy  loveliness  divine  ! 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  i88g. 

MY  GIRL 

SOMETIMES  I  call  her  my  golden  girl, 
Though  her  hair  is  far  from  a  tangled 
maze 
Of  drifted  sunshine  on  every  curl, — 

Not  her  golden  hair,  but  her  golden  ways 
And  her  heart  of  gold  make  her  dear  to  me. 
My  girl,  as  good  as  gold  is  she ! 
198 


Gbe  Cbampion^BnGcl 

Sometimes  I  call  her  my  lily-maid ; 

Though  her  dark-glowing,  nut-brown  cheeks 
no  art 
Could  pale  to  the  lily's  ivory  shade. 

Not  lily-pale  cheeks,  but  a  lily's  heart 
Makes  my  darling  girl  what  she  is  to  me. 
My  maid,  a  lily  pure  is  she  ! 


THE  CHAMPION-ANGEL 
*yfK  N VEILED,  in  common  air,  I  sometimes 

The  champion-angel,  holy,  glad,  and 
strong, 
Who  at  thy  right  hand  ever  walks  along, 
Unseen  of  men,  and  undiscerned  by  thee. 
His  height  is  glorious,  but  he  bends  to  know 
What  trouble  there  may  be  in  thy  dark  eyes  ; 
And  while  he  looks,  sweet  thoughts  of  peace 
arise, 
And  swift  thy  heart's  wild  beatings  tranquil  grow. 

Benign,  intense,  and  ceaseless  is  his  care. 

His  mighty  mantle  wraps  thee  every  hour 
From  sun  and  storm  and  all  the  nameless  wear 
Of  life.     He  clasps  thy  hand — thou  know'st  not 
why  — 
But  with  the  grasp  is  given  a  strange  new 
power, 
And  thou  art  strong  to  do,  to  bear,  to  die. 
199 


THE  TWO  ANGELS 

^^WO  princely  angels  clad  in  white  and  gold, 

wl^,     Who,  strong  and  beautiful  before  God's 
throne, 
Reflecting  His  great  glory,  long  had  shone, 

Once  left  seraphic  hierarchies  old, 

To  serve  poor  man,  and  tryst  with  him  to  hold. 
Through  lucent  airs  they  gladly  floated  down, 
Surcharged  with  joy  that  they  could  make  God 
known, 

And  pledges  sure  of  His  dear  love  unfold. 

Soft  as  the  brooding  of  a  seraph's  wing, 

And  fresh  as  breezes  blown  from  climes  unseen, 

So  sweet  and  strong  their  gracious  ministering ! 
Mild  tender  Mercy  one,  of  blessed  mien, 

And  Loving-Kindness,  with  deep  eyes  serene 
And  great  good-will,  benignant  like  a  king. 


THREE  ANGELS 

Raphael,  «  The  Healing  of  God  " ;  Gabriel,  "  The  Strength 
of  God  "  ;  Michael,  -  Who  is  as  God." 

/^OME,  go,  on  errands  all  divine,  ye  three 
l\.    Commissioned  ones,  great  ministers,  that  do 
His  pleasure,  hearkening  to   His  voice,  ye 
who 
Fulfill  His  word,  in  strength  excelling;  ye 
Whose  names  recorded  in  our  human  tongue 
200 


flBmisterins  Bngete 

Repeat  the  unknown  accent  of  the  word 

They  speak  in  heaven,  when  your  names  are 
heard, 
Between  the  notes  of  mighty  anthems  sung  ! 
Bearers  of  benison  to  men,  ye  come  and  go ! 

Thou,  Raphael,  Healing  of  our  God;  and  thou, 
The  strength  of  God,  blest  Gabriel,  chosen  so 

To  bear  from  God  to  men  access  of  might ; 
And  Michael,  thou  who  art  as  God,  whose  brow 

Shines  peerless,  like  a  flaming  fire  of  light ! 


MINISTERING  ANGELS 

HNGELS,  God's  elect  creation, 
Flames  of  fire,  yet  well  content 
To  the  heirs  of  His  salvation 
In  swift  service  to  be  sent, 
Singly  come  ye,  or  in  legions, 

Earthward  at  our  God's  behest 
To  these  sin-dark,  homesick  regions, 
Bringing  light  and  hope  and  rest ! 

Radiant  forms  of  lustrous  whiteness  ! 

Yet  the  sevenfold  rainbow  tinge 
Blends  your  wings'  bewildering  brightness 

With  soft  colour's  drifting  fringe. 
All  our  outward  way  protecting, 

Your  attendant  radiant  bands 
Guide  us — all  our  path  selecting, 

Hold  us  up  with  loving  hands. 
201 


Gbe  angel  of  Dietary 

Low  ye  bow  before  the  Eternal. 

In  His  uncreated  light 
E'en  your  purity  supernal 

Casts  a  shadow  faintly  bright. 
How  serene  your  God-lit  faces  ! 

How  ethereal  your  song  ! 
All  heaven's  high-arched,  sounding  spaces 

Your  full  glorias  prolong. 

We  are  sorrowing,  sinful,  lowly, 

Children  of  a  faithless  race. 
Ye  are  strong,  obedient,  holy, 

And  ye  look  upon  God's  face. 
Him  ye  worship,  Him  adore  ye, 

With  His  Son  once  crucified. 
Angels,  think,  in  upper  glory, — 

We  are  those  for  whom  He  died ! 


THE  ANGEL  OF  VICTORY 

"And  the  seventh  angel  sounded;  and  there  were  great 
voices  in  heaven,  saying,  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  be- 
come the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  His  Christ ;  and  He 
shall  reign  forever  and  ever." — Rev.  u  :  ij. 

/f^  GREAT  Seventh  Angel,  whose  shall  be 
j^\j  the  last 

Imperial  age-voice,  when  long  time  is 
done  — 
When  wilt  thou  sound,  in  sudden,  pealing  tone, 
Thy  deep,  majestic,  golden  trumpet  blast  ? 

202 


Gogetber,  limitb  tbe  XorD 

When  shall  be  heard  in  heaven,  great  voices  plain 
Which  say,  "  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are 

now 
Become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  Thou, 

His  Christ,  forever  and  forever  reign  !  " 

When  shall  the  mystery  finish,  and  the  hour 
Be  come,  when  all  shall  serve  the  King  of  Love  ? 

When  living  tides  of  splendour,  and  of  power 
Shall  thrill  the  earth,  as  now  they  roll  thro' 
heaven? 

Sound  victory's  blast,  sound  triumph  from  above, 
O  great,  last  Angel  of  the  mighty  Seven  ! 


TOGETHER,  WITH  THE  LORD 


m 


OT  at  the  table  here  below 
But  at  the  board  above 

Our  loved  one  joins  us  at  the  feast 
Of  Jesus'  dying  love. 


Clothed  on  with  immortality, 

His  brow  lit  like  a  star, 
Close  by  the  Master  is  his  place, 

There  where  the  happy  are. 

The  heavenly  Shepherd  called  His  own. 

His  voice  we  did  not  hear ; 
But  our  beloved  cannot  stay 

When  Jesus  calls  them  near. 
203 


"H  Dome  jfor  tbe  faster 

Our  love  still  follows,  and  our  faith 
Shares  the  enraptured  sight. 

He  is  not  dead,  but  lives  and  loves 
In  Jesus'  risen  light ! 

We,  at  the  table  here,  and  they 
Rest  in  the  Lord  alone. 

One  is  the  Master  of  the  feast, 
The  unbroken  circle,  one  ! 


A  HOME  FOR  THE  MASTER 

For  the  dedication  of  a  church. 


B 


ENEATH  the  dazzling  Syrian  sky 
No  dwelling-place  was  His 
Who  left  His  radiant  home  on  high 
To  bring  us  to  His  bliss. 


Now  far  above  the  brightest  sun, 

In  glory  that  excels, 
His  finished  work  forever  done, 

The  risen  Master  dwells. 

Yet  still  He  asks  a  home  and  place 

Among  the  homes  of  men, 
Where  He  may  speak  His  words  of  grace 

And  tell  His  love  again. 
204 


Gbrtet's  Xabourers 


Where  He  shall  sweetly  call  and  fold 
His  flock,  and  give  them  rest ; 

And  gather,  as  in  days  of  old, 
The  children  to  His  breast. 

Let  the  high  presence  of  our  God 
Make  earthly  things  divine ; 

And  wondrously  in  this  abode 
Let  grace  and  glory  shine. 


CHRIST'S  LABOURERS 

^  V\E  faithful  ones  !     O  not  alone 
I  If     Ye  toil  in  far,  unfriendly  lands, 

£^      But  'companied  by  valiant  bands 
Of  shining  spirits  from  God's  throne. 

A  great,  a  glorious  company, 
Hosts  of  the  Spirit-led  on  earth, 
Heirs  of  the  new  immortal  birth, 

Are  fellow-workers  where  ye  be ! 

All  praying  souls,  whose  ardent  view 
Sees  Christ's  fair  fabric  rise  secure 
'Mid  fierce  time-tumults,  heavenly  pure, 

Upbuild  those  wondrous  walls  with  you. 

Angels,  who  downward  bending  hear 
The  sin-bruised  soul's  repentant  voice, 
And  in  the  blessed  sound  rejoice, 

How  closely  do  they  gather  near ! 
205 


Grutb  in  Jflower 

And  Christ  the  Lord,  the  Crucified, 
For  Whose  dear  sake  alone  ye  go, 
Who  loves  us  as  we  cannot  know, 

How  is  He  at  your  very  side ! 

God,  saints  and  angels  !     Surely  ye, 
Since  all  to  God  ye  freely  give, 
Befriended  are  as  none  that  live, 

And  heartened  by  high  ministry ! 


S 


TRUTH  IN  FLOWER 

OW  broadly  thy  handful  of  golden  grain, 
Fling  it  afar  over  hillside  and  plain ! 


"  That  body  that  shall  be,"  thou  sowest  not, 
Nor  couldst  thou  forecast  it  by  deepest  thought. 

Thou   sowest  "  bare    grain,"   cold,  shining   and 

white, 
And  it  falls  into  earth,  to  darkness  and  night. 

But  God,  as  it  please  Him,  rare  form  shall  give 
To  each  smallest  grain,  when  He  bids  it  live. 

Scatter  God's  truth,  while  the  day  is  thine ; 
Each  truth  holds  the  wonder  of  life  divine. 

"  That  body  that  shall  be,"  thou  sowest  not, 
Its  beauty  and  splendour  surpass  all  thought. 
206 


Service 

For  in  human  hearts,  the  truth  sown  wide, 
Shall  blossom  in  life-forms,  all  glorified. 

Faith  sees  in  a  seed  a  strange,  beautiful  flower ; 
Faith  knows  that  God's  truth  will  bloom  by  His 
power. 


SERVICE 

"  *T1  VfH  HERE  the  saints  are  gathering,  there 
^jLIM  my  soul  would  be, 

With   the   flashing   armies    of  the 
crystal  sea ; 
Where  the  cherub  legions  bow  before  the  throne, 
Where  the  burning  seraphs  praise  the  Holy  One. 

"  Where  the  living  river  rolls  its  waves  of  light ; 
Where  His  servants  serve  Him,  where  there  is  no 

night : 
I  would  join  the  victors,  where  the  strife  is  o'er, 
God's  great  City  enter,  and  go  out  no  more." 

Such  my  aspiration,  such  my  longing  prayer, 
And,  in  vision,  seemed  I  to  be  almost  there; 
When  a  voice  familiar  said  quite  low  to  me : 
"  Other  work  and  service  have  I  first  for  thee. 

"  Not  yet  with  the  victors  shalt  thou  enter  in ; 
Go,  and  help  the  sinful  in  their  strife  with  sin. 
Not  yet  with  the  white-robed,  singing  praises  high, 
But  amid  the  sin-soiled  shall  thy  service  lie. 
207 


Gbe  Crown  Starry  or  Starless 

"  Not  with  cherub  legions,  not  with  seraph  train  • 
But  where  little  children  in  this  dark  earth's  pain, 
Call  for  love  and  comfort — thou  shalt  please  Me 

best, 
If  thou  lead  such  children  to  their  Saviour's  breast. 

"  I  have  saints  not  gathered  ;  saints  that  are  to  be, 
Now  among  the  fallen.     Gather  these  to  Me. 
Tell  them,  though  their  garments  dusty  are  and  dim, 
My  white,  seamless  vesture  waiteth  now  for  them. 

"  I  have  need  of  many  in  My  world  of  light ; 
Of  My  priceless  jewels  some  are  hid  in  night. 
Search  for  them,  and  find  them ;  win  My  own 

for  Me. 
They  must  gather  with  thee  at  the  crystal  sea. 

"  In  each  man  behold  thou  him  for  whom  I  died. 
Tell  all  men  I  love  them.  Tell  them  far  and  wide. 
Oh,  bring  many  with  thee  where  thou  long'st  to 

go: 
Stars  to  shine  forever  on  thy  Saviour's  brow ! " 


THE  CROWN  STARRY  OR  STARLESS 


% 


OVING  charge  by  Christ  is  given, 
Souls  to  bring  Him  in  His  heaven ; 
Each  some  brother  soul  must  bring, 
When  he  goes  to  greet  the  King. 
Those  dear  ones  for  whom  He  died 
Must  be  brought  from  far  and  wide. 
208 


Gbe  Baptism  ot  tbe  Spirit 

Oh,  let  none  go  up  alone 
The  pure  pathway  to  the  throne, 
Lest,  when  crowns  the  Master  giveth, 
That  be  starless  he  receiveth  ! 

Soul,  hast  thou  a  heart  of  love, 
Like  thy  Master  there  above  ? 
Those  dear  ones  for  whom  He  died, 
Hast  thou  brought  from  every  side  ? 
Soul,  hast  thou  persuaded  any 
Upward  to  the  mansions  many  ? 
Hast  thou  drawn  them  one  by  one, 
That  thou  go  not  up  alone  ? 
Does  the  Master,  looking  down, 
Star  on  star  set  in  thy  crown  ? 


THE  BAPTISM  OF  THE  SPIRIT 

(Tune— Elton.) 


D 


OW  white  against  the  Syrian  blue 
Came  down  the  heavenly  Dove, 
Descending  from  above  and  through 
All  stellar  worlds,  in  baptism  true, 
On  Thee,  Son  of  God's  love ! 


Jesus,  the  holy,  spirit-filled, 

The  chosen  of  God's  love, 
Be  Thine  own  grace  on  us  distilled, 
Our  hearts  by  Thy  great  mission  thrilled ! 

On  us  descend  the  Dove ! 
209 


©ractoue  THaorOs 

Baptize  us  with  Thy  Spirit's  might, 

His  grace  of  ministry. 
Help  us  to  spread  through  lands  of  night 
His  healing  warmth,  His  radiant  light, 

And  lift  men  up  to  Thee ! 

In  these  last  days  Thy  power  we  claim 

For  all  earth's  peoples  broad. 
Master,  Thy  love  is  still  the  same, 
Still  Sovereign  is  Thy  saving  name, 
Still  art  Thou  Son  of  God ! 


m 


GRACIOUS  WORDS 

E  cannot  tell  how  sweet  must  be 
The  heavenly  speech  they  use  above; 

What  cadences,  deep  as  the  sea, 
What  holiest  phrase  or  tone  of  love. 


Yet  human  speech  has  many  a  word 
More  sweet  than  angel-lips  can  sound: 

Forgiveness,  grace  in  Christ  the  Lord, 
Mercy,  with  loving-kindness  crowned. 

They  breathe  upon  our  hearts  like  songs 
That  swell  around,  below,  above  ; 

Immortal  words  on  mortal  tongues, 

The  words  that  tell  God's  wondrous  love. 

2IO 


Gbe  porcb  of  tbe  dfcaioens 

They  break  upon  our  utter  need, 

Like  dawn  upon  dark  midnight  strife, 

For  Jesus  brought  from  heaven  indeed, 
The  words  that  spirit  are  and  life. 

We  cannot  want  for  words  to  men, 
While  still  we  strike  the  mercy-chord ! 

.  God  grant  us  power  to  speak  again 
The  words  of  life  in  Christ  the  Lord. 


THE  PORCH  OF  THE  MAIDENS 

The  Erechtheum,  Athens 

^||C   ANY  a  year  and  many  a  day 
S  El   /  Have  passed  o'er  a  temple  ruined  and 

Where  with  broken  grandeur,  in  classic  lands, 

A  beautiful  fragment  still  it  stands. 

Its  portico,  rich  in  Attic  grace, 

Not  columns  fluted  from  cope  to  base, 

But  sculptured  womanly  forms  uphold, 

And  they  bear  the  cornice  carven  and  old 

With  placid  brow  and  far-gazing  eye, 
They  front  the  blue  of  the  Southern  sky, 
Looking  away  to  Minerva  bright, 
Goddess  who  glows  with  wisdom  and  light. 

211 


ttbe  Porcb  of  tbe  d&alfcens 

Draped  in  deep  folds  are  their  forms  serene, 
Sweetly  majestic  and  grave  their  mien  ; 
Their  lofty  pose  is  unconscious  and  free ; 
They  will  stand  unmoved  till  eternity. 

No  storms  can  wrest  them  out  of  their  place ; 
Summer  and  winter  but  mellow  their  grace ; 
Noble  and  faithful  their  age-long  ward ; 
Always  the  sacred  Olive  they  guard. 
Though  forever  the  centuries  came  and  went, 
Still  strong  and  lovely,  their  force  unspent, 
Adorning,  upholding  the  temple's  wall, 
They  would  out-watch  Time,  till  the  last  stone 
fall! 

Those  steadfast  figures  of  carven  stone 
Which  years  and  ages  have  not  o'erthrown, 
Were  they  promise  and  pledge  of  this  latest  time, 
Presaging  womanhood  grown  sublime  ? 
A  nobler  temple,  and  one  more  grand, 
Humanity  rears  in  this  Western  land ; 
Shall  lovely  women  its  walls  adorn, 
Like  the  sculptured  forms  of  the  porch  outworn  ? 

When  our  temple  is  finished  through  and  through, 
Shall  its  pillars  be  women  pure  and  true, 
Built  into  its  everlasting  wall, 
Upholding  the  holiest  shrine  of  all, 
Poised  and  untiring,  fronting  the  right, 
As  the  statues  fronted  Minerva  bright ; 
With  grace  to  adorn,  and  strength  to  uphold 
This  latest  temple,  like  that  of  old  ? 

212 


Gbe  5>eao  "QClbo  Die  "Rot 

THE  DEAD  WHO  DIE  NOT 

The  Street  of  Columns,  Palmyra 

©H,  many  the  winged  years  that  have  borne 
The  City  of  Palms  away  ! 
But  the  M  Street  of  Columns  "  yet  shines 
when  the  morn 
Outflashes  its  level  ray, 
And  it  reddens  and  glows  till  the  marvellous  close 
Of  the  dazzling  Syrian  day. 

Though  deep  is  the  dust  on  low-fallen  fanes, 
By  the  Djinns  of  the  desert  fanned, 

Full  many  a  pillar  yet  upright  remains 
Disdainful  of  drifting  sand. 

While  murmurs  gray  Time  in  mystical  rhyme, 
As  he  waves  his  obscuring  hand. 

But  whether  yet  standing,  or  fallen  prone, 

Each  pillar  alike  bears  trace 
Of  a  bracket  once  fixed  in  the  fluted  stone 

Where  a  patriot-statue  had  place. 
And  graven  words  old  these  columns  still  hold 

Of  each  hero's  record  and  race. 

And  the  record  shall  live  of  each  who  has  sought, 

Wherever  his  country  may  be, 
To  give  of  his  best  to  men  ;  who  has  wrought 

For  his  brothers  to  make  them  free ! 
Enduring  as  stone,  his  name  shall  be  known, 

Who  has  given  men  liberty  ! 
213 


Cbe  Xilica 

Invisible  statues  are  reared  for  him, 

And  for  him  rise  the  heart's  deep  psalms, 

And  vistas  of  victory,  never  to  dim, 
Lead  onward  to  endless  calms. 

His  fame  lives  sublime,  outlasting  all  time, 
In  the  fadeless  City  of  Palms  ! 


THE  LILIES 

j^ROM  darkest  mould  of  sorrow,  pain  and  grief, 

II  Spring  lilies  white; 

*U    So  black  the  earth,  it  is  beyond  belief 
That  aught  so  bright 
Should  pierce  its  night. 

What  heavenly  mystery  is  this,  that  turns 

Black  clods  to  flowers  ? 
Transforming  sorrows,  loss  and  pain  that  burns, — 

All  griefs  of  ours,  — 

By  unseen  powers  ! 

I  marvel,  lilies,  at  your  whiteness  rare, 

Your  texture  fine. 
Ye  stand  so  pure,  so  joyous,  calm  and  fair, 

To  sight  of  mine 

Ye  seem  divine. 

Sweet  friend,  the  lilies  symbol  all  your  life ! 

Set  in  the  soil 
Of  earthly  sorrow,  pain  and  stress  and  strife, 

And  daily  toil, 

Naught  can  despoil. 
214 


XLbc  present  Cime 

Your  soul's  white  beauty  rising  so  to  God, 
Fragrant  and  fair; 

As  gracious  lilies  springing  from  the  clod 
Rise  pure  in  air, 
And  bright  blooms  bear. 

For  God,  thou  hast  thy  secret  heart  of  gold ; 

For  service  meet 
To  men,  thy  perfumed  petals  white  unrolled ; 

A  life  complete, 

In  beauty  sweet. 


THE  PRESENT  TIME 

^^HE  Potter's  wheel  turns  fast ! 
^1^,  Slowly  through  ages  past 

The  wheel  revolved,  and  slowly  grew  all 
shapes ; 

Long  years  could  make  or  mar 

Tall  vase  or  heavy  jar 
On  which  the  Master  left  the  impress  none  escapes. 

But  now  the  wheel  spins  round, 
It  whirls,  but  not  with  sound. 
Swiftly  events  are  set  with  finished  things ! 
The  speed  accelerates, 
Faster  the  wheel  rotates, 
And  noiseless  to  their  end  the  Master  all  things 
brings. 

215 


Cbe  TlGlisb 

In  strong,  compelling  touch, — 

The  Master  uses  such, — 
Each  vessel  feels  the  pressure  of  His  hand ! 

Its  yielding  clay  assumes 

The  form  His  will  foredooms. 
Nations  and  men  are  moulded  by  His  firm  com- 
mand. 

He  traces  figures  fair 

On  such  as  bravely  bear 
His  tracing  fine ;  but  souls  of  stubborn  clay, 

Not  plastic  to  His  plan, 

Find  shorter,  swifter  span, 
For  urgently  the  Potter  works  while  yet  'tis  day ! 

Then  facile  be  our  clay, 

That  He  may  have  His  way ; 
And  let  Him  freely  work  His  sovereign  will ! 

The  pattern  shall  be  grand, 

Sure  modelled  by  His  hand, 
And  worthy  of  His  plans  which  the  long  years 
fulfill ! 


© 


THE  WISH 

H,  that  with  purged  vision,  I  might  see 
In  every  man  the  Christ  that  is, — 
Or  else  the  Christ  to  be ! 
So  dispossessed  of  scorn, 
With  love  alone 
To  look  into  the  eyes  of  every  one ; 
216 


Comtort 


And  name  each  one  a  brother, 
Since  there  lies, 
The  image  of  my  Lord 
Deep  in  his  eyes. 
Or  i(  I  see  not  in  my  brother  yet 

The  Christ  who  died  for  him  and  me, 
May  I  find  grace  to  speak  the  word 

That  sets  his  conscience  free. 
And  so  my  Christ  become  to  him 
The  living,  bright  Reality ! 


COMFORT 

SIT  with  her,  Saviour,  in  the  silent  room, 
And  talk  with  her  of  resurrection-life. 
Thy  robes  of  glory  shall  light  up  the  gloom, 
Thy  loving  voice  speak  comfort  after  strife. 

Take  Thou  her  hand  and  bending  o'er  her,  say, 
"  Thy  best  beloved  lives.     He  cannot  die  ! 

His  glorious  life  goes  onward  day  by  day ; 
With  Me  he  lives,  and  does  My  work  on  high." 

Repeat  to  her  those  mighty  words  of  grace, 

Those  marvellous,  majestic  words  of  power, 
Which  to  the  home  at  Bethany  brought  peace, — 
O  talk  of  Life,  though  this   is    death's  dark 
hour. 

217 


Crusting 

So  shall  Thy  comfort's  soft,  distilling  balm, 
Make  her  forget  the  earthly  "  Dust  to  dust," 

And  turn  her  anguish  to  a  heavenly  psalm, — 
The  heart's  deep  hymn  of  holy,  utter  trust. 

So  shall  Thy  tender  accents,  breathing  low, 
In    the    still    room,  withdrawn    from  human 
strife, 

Unveil  the  glory  which  Thy  loved  ones  know 
With  Thee,  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life. 


© 


TRUSTING 

H,  spread  out  thy  roots  by  the  river, 
The  wonderful  river  of  God ! 

Grow  deep  by  the  stream  that  forever 
Pours  life-giving  currents  abroad. 


Clear  waters  of  crystalline  splendour, 
That  shine  in  their  marvellous  flow, 

Shall  keep  thy  leaf  fadeless  and  tender, 
Nor  withering  drought  shalt  thou  know. 

Thy  trust  is  the  tree,  that  forever 
Shall  yield  to  thy  God  blessed  fruit. 

God's  wonderful  love  is  the  river, 
That  never  shall  fail  at  thy  root. 
218 


Country  pansbee 
COUNTRY  PARISHES 


/ib 


ANY  shady  glens  there  be 
Hidden  deep  in  greenery, 
Where  the  folded  flocks  are  led 
And  in  unmarked  pastures  fed. 


Limpid  streams  flow  softly  on, 
Where  the  lambs  may  drink  at  noon ; 
And  above  the  glades  at  night 
Stars  shed  down  a  silver  light. 

But  the  Shepherd  sees  His  own 
So  sequestered  and  unknown. 
Though  His  pastures  spread  world-wide 
He  o'erlooks  no  lone  hillside. 

And  I  think  that  oftenest,  there 
Comes  the  Shepherd,  Kingly-fair ; 
Calls  His  own  by  name,  and  moves 
'Mid  the  following  flocks  He  loves. 


THE  DOUBTFUL  THINGS  WE  DO 


Z 


HE  doubtful  things  are  burdens 
That  clog  us  in  the  race. 

The  weights  that  hold  us  backward, 
And  rob  our  lives  of  grace. 
219 


Xibe  Sbip  of  f  aitb 

Mists  on  the  soul's  horizon, 

Veils  on  the  highest  light, 
And  clinging  shadows,  turning 

Our  noonday  into  night. 

Things  not  of  faith  are  treason, 

Our  loyalty  they  mar. 
These  border-lands  of  danger 

Keep  us  from  God  afar. 

Full  joy  and  peace  will  crown  us 
When  not  alone  known  sin, 

But  all  we  feel  as  doubtful, 
Is  driven  from  within. 

O  children  of  the  sunshine, 
Count  not  the  doubtful  right ! 

Clear  from  your  skies  the  mist-veils, 
And  live  in  God's  high  light ! 

THE  SHIP  OF  FAITH 

"  And  lo,  God  hath  given  thee  all  them  that  sail  with  thee." 

— Acts  28 :  24. 

HO  sails  with  thee,  my  brother, 

Over  life's  swelling  sea  ? 
Who  in  thy  bark  is  riding, 

Who  sails,  who  sails  with  thee? 


ma 


Thy  dear  ones  loved  and  loving 
Ride  in  thy  ship  of  faith ; 

And  these  to  thee  are  given, 
For  so  it  is  He  saith. 


220 


z 


f  mo  Cbem ! 

But  not  alone  thy  dear  ones 

Sail  with  thee  o'er  the  sea ; 
Whose  life  soe'er  thou  touchest, 

He  sails,  he  sails  with  thee. 

Thou  hast  God's  word  of  promise 

Whose  is  the  swelling  sea, 
That  He  to  thee  has  given, 

All  them  that  sail  with  thee. 

All  destinies  related 

Or  bound  in  aught  to  thine, 
These  in  thy  ship  are  sailing 

Through  shadow  and  thro'  shine. 

He  whom  thy  strong  faith  holdeth 
Like  the  staunch  ship  of  the  sea, — 

The  soul  whom  thou  canst  lead  to  Christ, 
He  sails,  he  sails  with  thee ! 


FIND  THEM ! 

HERE  are  words  for  poems,  sweeter  than 
the  world  has  ever  heard ; 
Find  the  words,  and  thou  shalt  stir  men 
as  they  have  not  yet  been  stirred. 


There   are  deeds  of  daring  grander  than  long 

Time  has  ever  shown ; 
Do   the   deed,  and   thou   shalt   lift   men  up  to 

heights  before  unknown. 

221 


IRestlng  in  Xtflbt 

RESTING  IN  LIGHT 


© 


NE  day  my  soul  shall  be  as  white 
As  yonder  light-filled  cloud ; 

And  as  it  lieth  on  the  blue, 
So  shall  I  rest  on  God. 


THE  SHIPS  OF  GOD 

^^*HE  ships  of  God  to  haven  come. 
C^l^     On  steady  keel  they  ride  the  sea. 
Whatever  storm  or  calm  may  be, 
Through  dark  or  fair,  His  craft  sail  home ! 


DREAMS  AND  DEEDS 

i^^H,  the  moment  supreme,  when  the  beautiful 
Lj\7         dream 

Turns  into  the  beautiful  deed ! 
Then  great  grows  the  soul !     Then  it  joins  the 
long  roll 
Of  workers  with  God,  for  man's  need ! 


XL 


FREE 

HINE  am  I,  O  my  God. 

Then  serve  Thyself  with  me. 
But  give  Thy  Spirit's  quickening  might 
To  make  that  service  free. 

222 


<S 


Gbe  Xife*pul0e 

THE  LIFE-PULSE 

ENTLE,  strong,  unceasing 

Beats  the  heart  of  God  for  me. 
I  can  hear  it,  I  can  feel  it, 
When  I  listen  silently. 


f 


MIDNIGHT  SKY 

LYING  clouds  with  stars  between, 

Like  wild  eyes  of  Arabs  seen 
'Neath  the  turban's  drifted  grace, 
White-wreathed,  round  the  dusky  face. 


ROCKS 

«g|^RODUCT  of  old  primeval  fires, 

^      The  passion  and  the  flux  of  cycles  long ; 

UT^    Like  yours  the  struggle  of  our  human  sires 

To  mould  the  formless,  and  to  forge  the  strong  ! 


«  THAT  CANNOT  BE  UTTERED 


W 


NSEEN,  unfelt,  yet  known  to  faith, 
Within,  thou  Spirit  of  the  Lord, 
Below  our  feeling,  thought,  or  breath, 
Thy  voiceless  prayer  is  heard. 
223 


1  ntcrjcctors  prater 

INTERJECTORY  PRAYER 


m 


E  must  drop  the  load 

To  fold  the  hands  in  prayer! 
When  we  talk  with  God, 
Leave  it  with  Him  there  ! 


"HE  SHALL  SEND  HIS  ANGELS" 


to 


HEN   comes   the  time  for  my  long 
flight, 

My  spirit's  flight  to  Thee, 
Companioned  in  the  upper  light, 

I  shall  not  lonesome  be. 


224 


< 


